Mike Huckabee, the United States ambassador to Israel, has drawn international attention after suggesting in an interview that he would not object if Israel were to expand across much of the Middle East, citing what he described as the Jewish people’s biblical right to the land.
Speaking with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson on Friday, Huckabee was asked about Israel’s geographical borders, which he said are rooted in the Bible. Carlson referenced verses promising land to the descendants of Abraham, encompassing the area between the Euphrates River in Iraq and the Nile River in Egypt—a region that includes modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia.
“It would be fine if they took it all,” Huckabee said. Carlson, visibly surprised, asked if the ambassador truly endorsed such territorial expansion. Huckabee clarified that Israel itself does not seek to take the entire region but acknowledged that his statement reflected his religious interpretation. He later described the remarks as “somewhat of a hyperbolic statement” but left open the possibility that Israel could expand if it won a conflict.
Legal and Diplomatic Context
The remarks have raised questions about U.S. policy and international law. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 2024 that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal and must cease immediately. Israeli law does not clearly demarcate the country’s borders, and Israel’s 1981 annexation of the Golan Heights from Syria remains internationally unrecognized except by the United States.
After the 2024 war with Hezbollah, Israel also established military outposts in five locations inside Lebanon. Some Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have openly promoted the concept of a “Greater Israel,” envisioning expanded borders. In 2023, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stirred international outrage by presenting a map that incorporated Palestinian territories and parts of Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan within Israel, overlaid with the Israeli flag.
Huckabee, a self-described Christian Zionist, argued that Israel’s right to exist is rooted in international law but criticized international institutions like the ICJ and International Criminal Court (ICC) for opposing Israeli actions. “One of the reasons I’m so grateful President Trump and Secretary Rubio are pushing hard… is because they have become rogue organisations that are no longer really about an equal application of law,” Huckabee said.
Controversy Over Past Associations
Huckabee has faced criticism for not speaking out on cases involving U.S. citizens harmed by Israeli forces. Last year, he met with Jonathan Pollard, a convicted spy who sold U.S. intelligence to Israel during the Cold War and later moved to Israel. While Huckabee denied supporting Pollard’s views, he defended the meeting, saying it was a pre-approved appointment at the embassy in Jerusalem.
“I met with a lot of people over the course of the time I’ve been here and will meet with a lot more,” Huckabee said, emphasizing that such meetings follow official protocols.
Analysis: U.S. Backing ‘Greater Israel’?
Analysts warn that Huckabee’s remarks signal more than a personal opinion, they reflect a potential U.S. policy stance. By suggesting the United States would not object to Israeli expansion into neighboring Arab countries, the interview implies Washington may tacitly support a “Greater Israel” agenda. Experts caution that this is highly dangerous for regional stability, as it encourages territorial aggression under the guise of religious or historical justification.
“America’s backing of Israel’s expansionist ambitions sends a dangerous signal to other Arab nations,” said a Middle East policy analyst. “It undermines international law, emboldens aggressive policies, and risks further destabilizing an already volatile region.”
Regional Concerns
The interview has heightened fears that the United States may implicitly condone Israeli territorial expansion into neighboring Arab countries. Such a policy could provoke further conflicts, inflame anti-American sentiment, and weaken prospects for Palestinian rights and regional peace.
While Huckabee attempted to moderate his remarks by claiming Israel does not actively seek to occupy the entire region, analysts warn that the message is clear: Washington is unlikely to object if Israel expands, effectively giving Israeli expansionist ambitions a green light.
“This is extremely dangerous,” said a regional security expert. “It suggests that the U.S. is not just supporting Israel’s security, but is actively complicit in a strategy to expand Israel’s borders, destabilizing neighboring Arab states and undermining international law.”
The controversy underscores the risks of allowing personal ideology and political allegiance to influence U.S. diplomacy in one of the world’s most volatile regions.
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