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politics and politicians Title: Israel Is Top Foreign Destination for 2012 Republicans For the prospective field of Republican presidential candidates, a trip to Israel is quickly becoming a near prerequisite as top-tier contenders with little direct foreign policy experience look to brandish their credentials on the international stage before the demands of a grueling campaign keep them tied up domestically. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney began the Holy Land parade last month, holding a private meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during part of a larger Middle East trip. Next, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee -- who has been outspoken in his advocacy for allowing Jewish settlements to be built in Palestinian-held lands -- arrived in Israel last weekend for an extended trip that also included a visit with Netanyahu. And on Tuesday, the Republican Jewish Coalition announced that it was sponsoring a trip for Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour to Israel next weekend when he will meet with Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders. "I think it's important for political leaders to have an opportunity to see firsthand and experience and hear from the leadership in Israel as to what's going on in a particularly complex and vitally important region of the world," Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director Matt Brooks said. "We have requests in to all the folks that are being talked about running for president in 2012." The high-profile visits to America's closest ally in the Middle East come at a heightened time of tension in the region, as fears mount that Islamic fundamentalists could gain power in Egypt in the wake of the uprising there. Huckabee told Fox News on Tuesday that there was "more than a little bit of concern" in Israel on a day when he met with Netanyahu, members of the Israeli Knesset and European Parliament members. "There is real anxiety," Huckabee said. "I would call it just short of panic." Presidential prospects have long made trips to Israel in advance of launching their campaigns in order to introduce themselves to its leaders and learn about the country and the surrounding region on the ground. Michael Franc, the vice president for government relations at the Heritage Foundation, said that the imagery that comes with trips to Israel can also offer clear political benefits, particularly for governors who are trying to pass the commander-in-chief test. "Within the context of the Republican primary electorate, there are a lot of evangelical Christians who have a special love and affection for Israel, so there may be a logical political connection there," Frank said. "But that's probably secondary to the primary concern, which is that the Middle East is now -- along with Eastern Asia -- the primary field of engagement for the U.S. in the world. So if you want to be president, you have to include a working knowledge of the Middle East and how Israel fits in with its neighboring countries." The RJC says that it has placed inquiries with all of the prospective GOP presidential candidates about making future trips to Israel, and the organization's official Twitter account on Tuesday reached out publicly to an aide with former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who visited Israel in December of 2008. Aides to former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin have told RealClearPolitics that a trip to Israel is high on the 2008 GOP vice-presidential nominee's agenda, and the RJC is anxious to help facilitate it. "I really hope we can get her over there," Matt Brooks said of Palin. "We've been in discussions, and I know she wants to go."
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