US Envoy Suggests Israel Expansion Across Middle East Would Be Acceptable

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee Suggests Expansion of Israeli Territory

In an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that it would be acceptable if Israel were to take control of most of the Middle East. The ambassador’s comments came after Carlson asked about the geographical borders of Israel, which Huckabee argued are rooted in the Bible.

According to the biblical verse mentioned by Carlson, the land between the Euphrates River in Iraq and the Nile River in Egypt was promised to the descendants of Abraham, including modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia. Huckabee stated that “it would be fine if they took it all,” although he later clarified that his statement was “somewhat of a hyperbolic expression.”

Huckabee’s comments sparked a reaction from the Department of State, which did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment on whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio shares Huckabee’s views. The principle of territorial integrity and prohibition against acquiring land by force have been fundamental principles of international law since World War II.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 2024 that Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal and must cease immediately. However, Israeli law does not clearly demarcate the country’s borders, and the US is the only country to recognize Israel’s claimed sovereignty over certain territories.

Some Israeli politicians have promoted the idea of a “Greater Israel” with expanded borders, while others have faced criticism for their views on international law and human rights. Huckabee’s comments have raised questions about his stance on these issues and whether he will support expansionist policies in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera