Arabic version: هكابي يدعي حق إسرائيل في الاستيلاء على أراضي الشرق الأوسط
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated during an interview on The Tucker Carlson Show that Israel has the right to seize all the land between the Euphrates and Nile Rivers, which would span five countries as well as the occupied Palestinian territories. His remarks echo the aspirations of the ‘Greater Israel’ project, supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials.
According to Middle East Eye, Huckabee faced questions from Carlson about the specific borders of the land he believes was divinely granted to the Jewish people. In response to Carlson’s inquiry about the implications of such a claim, Huckabee paused and said, “It would be fine if they took it all,” although he later clarified that was not the current objective.
Huckabee emphasized that while Israel is not seeking to take over neighboring countries like Jordan or Syria, it does wish to protect its own territory. He suggested that if Israel were attacked and subsequently expanded its borders as a result of victory in such a conflict, that would be a different conversation.
The ambassador’s statements have sparked controversy, with critics arguing that they reflect a troubling perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Huckabee’s earlier comments about the lack of a US policy goal for a Palestinian state in the West Bank further fueled the debate over his views. The interview has led to discussions about the implications of Huckabee’s beliefs on US-Israel relations and the broader Middle Eastern geopolitical landscape.
