US Ambassador Mike Huckabee sparked controversy by suggesting it “would be fine” if Israel expanded its territory across the Middle East.
His remarks, linking Israel’s borders to biblical promises, have drawn criticism amid ongoing regional tensions and international legal rulings.
During a Friday interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, Huckabee was asked about the biblical borders of Israel.
He referenced a verse promising the land to the descendants of Abraham, spanning from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in Iraq — a region covering modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia.
“It would be fine if they took it all,” Huckabee said, prompting surprise from Carlson.
Clarifying remarks: “Hyperbolic statement”
Huckabee later walked back his initial wording, calling it “somewhat of a hyperbolic statement.”
However, he left open the possibility of Israeli expansion if the country were attacked and won any resulting conflicts:
#US Ambassador to #Israel Mike Huckabee, who told @TuckerCarlson Carlson it would be "fine" for Israel to control the entire Middle East based on biblical land grants to Abraham, as shown in the attached broadcast clip. Via : @TCNetwork#KSA , #UAE, #Syria #Iran #Iraq #Qatar… pic.twitter.com/9LJq9HP2nD
— XMen (@XMen1193701) February 21, 2026
“If they end up getting attacked by all these places, and they win that war, and they take that land, OK, that’s a whole other discussion,” he said.
Legal and international context
Huckabee defended Israel’s right to exist, citing international law, while criticising bodies like the International Criminal Court and International Court of Justice, calling them “rogue organisations.”
The ICJ ruled in 2024 that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is illegal, demanding an immediate cessation.
Israel also occupies the Golan Heights, annexed in 1981, and has set up military outposts in Lebanon post-2024 conflict with Hezbollah.
Some Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have promoted the concept of a “Greater Israel” encompassing Palestinian territories and neighboring regions.
Controversial past actions
Huckabee has faced criticism for not speaking on US citizens harmed by Israeli forces and for meeting convicted spy Jonathan Pollard at the US embassy in Jerusalem.
Pollard, who served 30 years in US prison for selling intelligence to Israel, moved there in 2020. Huckabee said he does not share Pollard’s views but defended their meeting as pre-approved protocol at the embassy.
Huckabee’s comments could stir diplomatic tensions, as international law prohibits acquisition of land by force.
While he framed his stance in religious terms, the remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of Israel’s expansionist ambitions and the US role in the region.
The US Department of State has not commented on whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio shares Huckabee’s views.
