Groups protest Huckabee's visit

JERUSALEM, Aug. 17 (UPI) -- Left and right wing groups vowed to protest a reception for former U.S. presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee at an east Jerusalem hotel.

Peace Now and Im Tirtzu (If You Will It) planned protests for Monday night's reception at Shepherd's Hotel in the predominantly Arab neighborhood of Sheik Jarrah in east Jerusalem, local media reports said.

Hundreds of guests from Israel and abroad are expected to attend the gala dinner.

Peace Now secretary-general Yariv Oppenheimer told local newspapers the reception and the American politician's visit would provoke further tensions and said the movement objected to attempts by right-wingers to take control of east Jerusalem, media reports said.

Im Tirtzu, a student's organization that promotes Zionism, said Peace Now's protests would lead to the division of Jerusalem instead of unifying it, The Jerusalem Post said.

Haaretz said Huckabee intends to visit the Jewish quarter in Hebron, Maaleh Adumim outside of Jerusalem and other Jewish neighborhoods in east Jerusalem.