US ambassador says Israel has right to much of Middle East, sparking uproar
South China Morning Post
by Associated PressFebruary 21, 2026
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US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has sparked widespread outrage after claiming that Israel has a biblical right to much of the Middle East. In an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, Huckabee tied his assertion to religious scripture, arguing that the region was promised to Abraham’s descendants in the Bible. This statement has drawn sharp condemnation from Arab and Muslim nations, which view it as an affront to their sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The remarks have fueled tensions between Israel and its neighboring Arab states, with critics accusing Huckabee of disregarding international law and modern borders. The comments also come amid heightened regional conflicts, including the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian dispute and strained relations between Israel and Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Iran. Many view Huckabee’s statements as an endorsement of Zionist claims to lands beyond Israel’s current borders, a position that has long been controversial in both religious and political contexts.
The controversy highlights the delicate balance between biblical justifications for territorial claims and the practical realities of
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Originally published on South China Morning Post on 2/21/2026