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Huckabee Urges Direct US-Israel Flights, Tourism Rebounds

8/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee met tourism officials at the Israel Tourism Recovery Forum in Jerusalem.
Tourism Ministry director general Michael Izhakov said expanding direct U.S.–Israel flights is critical, prompting United and Delta to resume service in September after July 2026 arrivals rose 28% to 109,000.
Israel Hotel Association president Eli Cohen proposed a Birthright-style program for young Evangelical Americans, noting tourists fell from 4.5 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2025.

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Story summary

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee met tourism officials at the Israel Tourism Recovery Forum in Jerusalem.
Tourism Ministry director general Michael Izhakov said expanding direct U.S.–Israel flights is critical, prompting United and Delta to resume service in September after July 2026 arrivals rose 28% to 109,000.
Israel Hotel Association president Eli Cohen proposed a Birthright-style program for young Evangelical Americans, noting tourists fell from 4.5 million in 2019 to 1.3 million in 2025.