Former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee challenged U.S. President Barack Obama’s policy of pressuring Israel on settlement issues and pushing for freezes on Jewish construction in eastern Jerusalem. “It’s like telling people they can’t live in Queens, or Brooklyn or the Bronx,” said Huckabee while in eastern Jerusalem on Monday as part of a three-day tour of Israel.

“New Yorkers would never stand for being told where they can and cannot live. Why should we be trying to do the same to Israel?” On Monday, Huckabee is visiting Shepherd’s Hotel, the Jewish-owned property whose renovation President Obama has tried to block.