During a lengthy interview with Tucker Carlson released February 21, 2026, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee was asked whether Israel had a biblical right to land described in Genesis 15 — territory Carlson characterized as spanning from Egypt's Nile to Iraq's Euphrates River, including parts of modern Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Huckabee initially responded "it would be fine if they took it all," then immediately qualified that Israel "is not asking to take all of that" but rather seeks to hold land it currently occupies. He later called the initial statement "somewhat hyperbolic."
More than 14 Arab and Muslim governments, including US allies Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, and Qatar, issued a joint statement on February 23 condemning the remarks as "dangerous and inflammatory" and violations of international law. Several nations called for clarification from the US State Department. The US Embassy in Jerusalem responded that Huckabee's comments were "taken out of context" and that there is no change to US policy on Israel. The controversy unfolded amid ongoing tensions over Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, which most of the international community considers illegal under international law.
