US Envoy Huckabee Says Israel Could Take All Middle East Land
In a provocative interview with podcaster Tucker Carlson, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee asserted that Israel possesses a biblical right to take over the entire Middle East, or at least a significant portion of it. The interview, posted on Friday, featured Huckabee, a Trump administration appointee and former Arkansas governor, discussing interpretations of Old Testament scripture within the US Christian nationalist movement.
Biblical Claims and Modern Geography
Carlson, who recently made disputed claims about being detained at Tel Aviv airport, questioned Huckabee about a biblical verse where God promises Abram that his descendants will receive land from the wadi of Egypt to the Euphrates River. Carlson noted that this area in modern geography would encompass essentially the entire Middle East, including Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and large parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Huckabee responded, "I'm not sure it would go that far, but it would be a big piece of land." He elaborated, "Israel is a land that God gave, through Abraham, to a people that he chose. It was a people, a place and a purpose." When pressed by Carlson on whether Israel has the right to that land, Huckabee stated, "It would be fine if they took it all."
Controversy Surrounding Carlson's Trip
The interview was conducted during Huckabee's trip to Israel, which generated headlines after Carlson claimed he experienced "bizarre" treatment at Ben Gurion airport. However, Israeli and US officials countered that Carlson underwent routine security questioning. The Israel Airports Authority issued a statement on X, clarifying that "Tucker Carlson and his entourage were not detained, delayed, or interrogated."
Huckabee himself commented on X, stating, "EVERYONE who comes in/out of Israel (every country for that matter) has passports checked & routinely asked security questions." Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett criticized Carlson, calling him "chickenshit" and a "phony" in an X post.
Political Divisions and Implications
Carlson has increasingly questioned US support for Israel, moving him from the center to the fringe of the Make America Great Again movement. In contrast, Huckabee represents a more traditional pro-Israel conservative position. This divergence highlights ongoing tensions within right-wing political circles regarding Middle East policy.
The interview underscores the complex interplay between religious interpretations, geopolitical claims, and diplomatic relations in the region. Huckabee's remarks have sparked debate over the role of biblical narratives in modern statecraft and the potential impact on US foreign policy in the Middle East.
