Arabic version: هكابي ينفي دعمه للتوسع الإقليمي الإسرائيلي

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee is facing backlash after comments made during an interview with podcaster Tucker Carlson. Huckabee stated he would be fine if Israel expanded its territory to include much of the Middle East, a remark that has drawn outrage from the Arab world, including Saudi Arabia.

According to Al Jazeera, Huckabee later claimed that his remarks were taken out of context, asserting that Carlson edited his full response. He criticized the Arab League for condemning his statement, suggesting they require a new translator.

During the interview, Huckabee referenced biblical scripture to justify his stance, claiming that the land promised to the descendants of Abraham extends from the Euphrates River in Iraq to the Nile River in Egypt, encompassing parts of modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. He stated, “It would be fine if they took it all,” said Huckabee, who was appointed by President Donald Trump last year.

Despite Huckabee’s attempts to clarify his comments, advocacy groups have called for his removal. Raed Jarrar, an advocacy director at DAWN, emphasized that an ambassador endorsing such territorial expansion cannot effectively represent the United States. He warned that Huckabee’s views could damage US credibility in the region.

The US Department of State has not publicly addressed Huckabee’s remarks, and it remains unclear how the administration will respond to the growing criticism surrounding his statements.