US Ambassador Mike Huckabee claims Israel has 'biblical right' to much of Middle East: 'It would be fine if they took it all'
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said in an interview with podcaster Tucker Carlson that, from a biblical perspective, Israel would be justified in taking control of much of the Middle East “or even the entire region.” The statements, reported by The Guardian, caused strong reactions in the public space.
In the discussion published Friday, Carlson asked US Ambassador Huckabee, a close associate of Prime Minister Netanyahu, about his interpretation of an Old Testament verse in which God promises Abraham a territory “from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates”writes News.ro.
The podcaster pointed out that in today's geography, this area would cover “virtually the entire Middle East,” including Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, as well as significant parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
“It is a land that God gave, through Abraham, to a people he chose”
Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and appointed ambassador during the Trump administration, responded that he was not sure that the biblical territory would even cover the entire region, “but it would be a big piece of land”.
He insisted that Israel “it is a land that God gave, through Abraham, to a people he chose. It was a people, a place and a purpose.“
Asked directly if Israel would have the right to claim all of the territory mentioned in the biblical text, Huckabee stated: “It would be all right if he took it all.”
Controversy surrounding Carlson's visit to Israel
The interview was conducted during Tucker Carlson's visit to Israel, which attracted attention after he claimed to have undergone treatment “bizarre” at Ben Gurion Airport. However, Israeli and American authorities rejected the claims, stating that the journalist went through standard security procedures.
Huckabee's claims have sparked controversy. PHOTO Capture The Tucker Carlson Show
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett harshly criticized Carlson, calling him “pathetic” and “impostor” in a post on Platform X. For his part, Huckabee weighed in on the debate, pointing out that all passengers entering or leaving Israel go through routine security checks.
The Israel Airports Authority said in a statement that “Tucker Carlson and his entourage were not detained, delayed or questioned.”
