Huckabee denies making statement on supporting Israeli expansionist policies

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee Clarifies Comments on Middle East Territory

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee clarified his comments on the geographical boundaries of Israel during an interview with podcaster Tucker Carlson. In a recent social media post, Huckabee stated that he had been misquoted by Carlson and claimed that his full response was edited out of context.

Huckabee initially told Carlson that according to biblical scripture, the land promised to the descendants of Abraham refers to an area between the Euphrates River in Iraq and the Nile River in Egypt. This region would encompass modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia. He later clarified his statement, saying it was “somewhat of a hyperbolic statement” and that Israel does not want to take over most of the Middle East.

The US Department of State has not publicly commented on Huckabee’s remarks. However, Raed Jarrar, advocacy director at the US-based rights group DAWN, expressed concern over the ambassador’s comments, stating that they do not align with established US policy and could be seen as an endorsement of Israeli territorial expansion across the entire Middle East.

Huckabee has been appointed by President Donald Trump and is a staunch defender of Israel. The Arab League condemned his comments, and Saudi Arabia led a regional push against him based on partial remarks.

Source: Al Jazeera