Huckabee backs massive ‘biblical Israel’ expansion, sparking firestorm

Huckabee replied that “it would be fine if they took it all,” while also emphasizing that Israel has no intention of expanding into neighboring countries.

By World Israel News Staff

A televised interview between U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and controversial commentator Tucker Carlson has triggered a wave of diplomatic condemnation across the Middle East, after a discussion about biblical borders was interpreted by regional governments as endorsing Israeli control over vast portions of the region.

During the interview, Carlson cited a biblical passage describing God’s promise to Abraham of land stretching “from the wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates,” arguing that such a description would encompass much of today’s Middle East.

He suggested the territory would include modern Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and large parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

Huckabee responded cautiously at first, saying he was unsure the description extended quite that far but acknowledged it would represent “a big piece of land.”

He added that Israel is “a land that God gave, through Abraham, to a people that he chose,” describing the connection as one of “a people, a place and a purpose.”

Pressed repeatedly by Carlson on whether Israel would have a right to such territory, Huckabee replied that “it would be fine if they took it all,” while also emphasizing that Israel has no intention of expanding into neighboring countries.

Despite that clarification, the exchange quickly ignited regional backlash.

Governments across the Arab and Muslim world issued coordinated condemnations, accusing the remarks of inflaming tensions and contradicting international law.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry called the comments “dangerous” and “irresponsible,” warning that such rhetoric undermines diplomatic norms and regional stability.

Jordan described the remarks as an attack on the sovereignty of states in the region, while Egypt said the statement represented a “blatant violation of international law.”

The Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry accused Huckabee of endorsing claims extending “from the Nile to the Euphrates,” arguing that the remarks contradict both historical realities and official American policy opposing unilateral annexation.

A rare joint declaration followed, signed by more than a dozen countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon and Syria, alongside the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

The statement expressed “strong condemnation and profound concern” over comments suggesting Israel could exercise control over territories belonging to Arab states.

It warned that such rhetoric constitutes “a flagrant violation of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations” and poses “a grave threat to the security and stability of the region.”

The signatories further argued that the remarks contradict diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions following the Gaza war, stating that proposals seeking to legitimize control over the lands of others “fuel tensions and constitute incitement rather than advancing peace.”

They reiterated their position that Israel “has no sovereignty whatsoever over the Occupied Palestinian Territory or any other occupied Arab lands,” and reaffirmed support for a Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 lines.

Neither the Israeli government nor the Trump administration issued an immediate formal response to the backlash.