US Amb. to Israel Huckabee Sparks Controversy with ‘Greater Israel’ Remarks

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has triggered sharp regional backlash after suggesting that biblical tradition grants Israel rights to territory stretching across much of the Middle East.

In an interview broadcast Friday with conservative American commentator Tucker Carlson, Huckabee — a former Baptist pastor and longtime supporter of Israel appointed ambassador in 2025 by President Donald Trump — was asked about a passage in the Book of Genesis referring to land between the Nile and the Euphrates.

“I believe that’s true, it includes the entire Middle East, and it would be good if they took all of it,” Huckabee said, appearing to endorse the idea often referred to as “Greater Israel,” extending from the Nile River to the Euphrates.

Strong Arab Reactions

The remarks drew swift condemnation from several Arab states.

Saudi Arabia described the comments as “irresponsible” and a “dangerous precedent,” while Jordan said they constituted a violation of the sovereignty of countries in the region.

Egypt reaffirmed that “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or any other Arab land.”

The Palestinian Authority said Huckabee’s statements contradict President Trump’s publicly declared position rejecting the annexation of the occupied West Bank.

Clarifications, but No Retraction

On Saturday, Huckabee published two posts on the social media platform X addressing other issues raised during the interview, including his definition of Zionism. However, he did not revisit or clarify his remarks regarding Israeli control over territory across the Middle East.

The controversy comes as Israel intensifies measures aimed at consolidating its control over the West Bank, which it has occupied since 1967. Israel previously annexed East Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan Heights in moves not widely recognized by the international community.

Huckabee’s comments have added to already heightened regional tensions, raising fresh questions about U.S. diplomatic messaging and its potential impact on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broader Middle East stability.