Carlson Presses on Scripture’s Geographic Scope (Image Credits: Compote.slate.com)
Israel – US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee ignited international outrage during a February 20 interview with Tucker Carlson by referencing biblical promises of land stretching across much of the Middle East.[1][2]
Carlson Presses on Scripture’s Geographic Scope
Tucker Carlson challenged Huckabee on Genesis 15:18, where God promises Abraham’s descendants territory from the wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River. That area encompasses modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.[2]
Huckabee acknowledged the expanse as “a big piece of land.” When Carlson asked if Israel had a right to it, the ambassador replied, “It would be fine if they took it all.”[3] He quickly added that Israel sought only to secure its current holdings for safety, not conquest of neighboring states.
The exchange reflected Huckabee’s long-held Christian Zionist views, which tie Jewish rights to the land to Old Testament covenants. Israel, he argued, represents a divinely ordained homeland won through defensive wars.[4]
Evangelical Roots and Policy Tensions
Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor and evangelical pastor, entered his role as ambassador under President Donald Trump. His appointment signaled strong US backing for Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict, now in its third year since Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.[1]
Huckabee has consistently advocated for Israeli control over the West Bank, including Area C, which covers about 60 percent of the territory. Such positions clash with international law, which deems Israeli settlements there illegal, as affirmed by the International Court of Justice in 2024.[5]
Over 700,000 Jewish settlers now live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas Palestinians claim for a future state. Settlement growth accelerated after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 2022 return to power with a pro-settler coalition.
Joint Rebuke from Arab and Muslim States
More than a dozen nations and organizations issued a joint statement condemning Huckabee’s words as “dangerous and inflammatory.” They argued the remarks threatened peace efforts in Gaza and contradicted Trump’s vision for an independent Palestinian state.[1]
Signatories included:
- United Arab Emirates
- Egypt
- Jordan
- Saudi Arabia
- Qatar
- Turkey
- Indonesia
- Pakistan
- Kuwait
- Oman
- Bahrain
- Lebanon
- Syria
- State of Palestine
- Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
- Arab League
- Gulf Cooperation Council
Egypt labeled the comments a “flagrant breach” of international law. Saudi Arabia decried them as “extremist rhetoric.” Iran warned they would embolden Israeli aggression.[3]
Clarifications and Divided Reactions
Huckabee later described his statement as “somewhat hyperbolic” and accused Carlson of selective editing in social media clips. “They’re not asking to take it over,” he insisted, though he noted that wartime conquests could change discussions.[5]
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised Huckabee. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, however, criticized Carlson separately over unrelated airport claims.
No immediate response came from the White House or State Department.
Key Takeaways
- Huckabee tied Israeli land rights to Genesis promises but stressed no expansionist intent.
- Joint statement rejected any Israeli sovereignty over Arab territories.
- Remarks highlight friction between evangelical support and diplomatic norms.
Huckabee’s interview underscores deepening divides over Israel’s borders amid protracted conflict. As condemnations echo, the episode tests US alliances in a volatile region. What do you think about the ambassador’s comments? Tell us in the comments.