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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUS ambassador Mike Huckabee causes uproar by claiming Israel has a right to much of the Middle East
https://apnews.com/article/israel-ambassador-huckabee-middle-east-arab-muslim-e88a235c48bfb904f0ee7f8a72edf250US ambassador causes uproar by claiming Israel has a right to much of the Middle East
By SAM MEDNICK and SAMY MAGDY
Updated 12:26 PM CST, February 21, 2026
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) Arab and Muslim nations on Saturday sharply condemned comments by the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who said Israel has a right to much of the Middle East.
Huckabee made the comments in an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired Friday. Carlson said that according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham would receive land that today would include essentially the entire Middle East, and asked Huckabee if Israel had a right to that land.
Huckabee responded: It would be fine if they took it all. Huckabee added, however, that Israel was not looking to expand its territory and has a right to security in the land it legitimately holds.
His comments sparked immediate backlash from neighboring Egypt and Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States, which in separate statements called them extremist, provocative and not in line with the U.S. position.
Saudi Arabias foreign ministry described Huckabees comments as extremist rhetoric and unacceptable, and called for the State Department to clarify its position on them.
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Well, except where the Trump Gaza will be located
2naSalit
(101,541 posts)With dementia.
Turbineguy
(39,946 posts)dalton99a
(93,250 posts)
"President Trump loves children"
leftstreet
(39,813 posts)unbelievable
Iggo
(49,821 posts)hatrack
(64,628 posts)Just what the Middle East needs!!!
VMA131Marine
(5,229 posts)maxrandb
(17,354 posts)Monty Python couldn't even imagine this insane distribution of power....oh wait!
Behind the Aegis
(56,061 posts)This is just more fodder for other anti-Semites.
MurrayDelph
(5,734 posts)to the point that it brings his imaginary friend back to earth.
Either way he's in for a surprise: either his friend doesn't come back to Earth, or he does but leaves Mike behind.
womanofthehills
(10,845 posts)Tucker is at least very anti-war. This is one of about 10 clips from interview all over X. All are very interesting as Tucker really pushes the fake Christian Huckabee about Israel and how badly Christians in Israel are being treated.
Trump must be pissed. Interesting watching this division in the Republican Party.
LetMyPeopleVote
(177,801 posts)In recent days, weve received multiple reminders: Donald Trumps diplomats could stand to be more diplomatic.
Three U.S. ambassadors sparked three international incidents over the course of a week:
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-02-23T21:49:32.679Z
- Ambassador to Belgium Bill White
- Ambassador to France Charles Kushner
- Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee
But Huckabeeâs controversy is clearly generating the biggest backlash.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/huckabees-israel-comments-spark-controversy-adding-to-trumps-ambassadorial-woes
Remarks by Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, prompted a storm of condemnation from Arab leaders over the weekend after he suggested that it would be fine if Israel took lands stretching across the Middle East from Egypt to Iraq.
Mr. Huckabee, an evangelical Christian and a staunch supporter of Israel, made the comments during a two-hour interview with the provocative right-wing podcaster Tucker Carlson, which aired on Friday.
To put it mildly, many in the region were not impressed. Politico reported that the backlash included public criticism from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States.
Saudi Arabias foreign ministry described Huckabees comment as extremist rhetoric and unacceptable, while Egypts foreign ministry called the remark a blatant violation of international law. The League of Arab States added, Statements of this nature extremist and lacking any sound basis serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions.
Over the weekend, Huckabee tried to walk back his comments, insisting that he was taken out of context. In the same interview, the ambassador, who previously served as governor of Arkansas, said Israel isnt trying to take all of that, though he added, They are asking to at least take the land that they now occupy, they now live in, they now own legitimately, and it is a safe haven for them.