US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and his family discovered ancient coins and jar fragments about 10 km. northeast of Modi’in, the Yesha Council said on Tuesday.
On a visit near Na’aleh, in the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council, the family entered a cave that contained fragments of a jar dating back to the 2nd century CE, providing evidence that the cave served as a hiding place for refugees during the Bar-Kochba Revolt.
Then, entering a second, previously unknown cave, the family used a metal detector to uncover five coins that may date back to the same period.
“Grandpa, look what we found,” Huckabee’s grandchildren exclaimed as they discovered the coins.
Mateh Binyamin Regional Council head Israel Ganz said the coins are confirmation of the Jewish people’s presence in Israel.
“These findings are the best proof of our historical right to every part of the Land of Israel,” he said.
Huckabee family visits Shiloh, West Bank
The Huckabee family also visited Shiloh during their trip.
“I have a warm place in my heart for ancient Shiloh,” Huckabee said. “It’s amazing to come to a place that proves miracles can happen, 3,000 years ago, and even today.”
This was the ambassador’s third visit to the city in Samaria, the Yesha Council confirmed.
The tour was initiated by tour guide Sarah Paley and by Ruthie Lieberman, a political consultant and founder of the Yes! Israel Project. It was guided by Bar-Ilan University’s Dr. Dvir Raviv, who is running an archaeological survey of the area.
“It was remarkable to see such a senior figure so eager to connect to the land together with his family,” Raviv said.
“This tour is part of a series designed to strengthen the connection between Israel’s supporters in the US and our homeland,” Lieberman added.