US Ambassador Says Israel Can "Take It All" in Middle East

"It would be fine if they took it all." With those seven words, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee ignited a diplomatic firestorm that's reverberating across the Middle East.

Speaking to Tucker Carlson in a Friday interview, the self-proclaimed Christian Zionist was asked about Israel's geographical boundaries—specifically, whether modern Israel had the right to claim the Biblical promise of land stretching from Iraq's Euphrates River to Egypt's Nile. His casual endorsement of such expansion would encompass present-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia.

When Faith Meets Foreign Policy

This isn't Huckabee's first controversial statement about the region. Back in 2008, he declared "There's really no such thing as a Palestinian." He's consistently denied the existence of illegal Israeli occupation in the West Bank, even after the 2024 International Court of Justice ruling that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory violates international law.

Nominated by Trump in 2024, Huckabee has long opposed the two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians. For him, this isn't merely political positioning—it's religious conviction translated into diplomatic doctrine.

Immediate Diplomatic Fallout

The response was swift and harsh. Egypt's Foreign Ministry called the remarks a "blatant violation" of international law. Jordan dismissed them as "absurd and provocative," while Saudi Arabia demanded clarification from the US State Department, labeling the comments "extremist rhetoric."

The Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation issued separate condemnations, warning that such statements "serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions." Huckabee later attempted damage control, calling his remarks "somewhat hyperbolic," but the diplomatic damage was done.

The Undefined Borders Reality

Ironically, Israel itself doesn't legally define its borders. The country currently occupies Syria's Golan Heights, illegally annexed in 1981, with only the US recognizing this sovereignty since 2019 during Trump's first term. Following its recent war with Hezbollah, Israel has established military outposts at five points inside Lebanon.

Some Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have openly promoted "Greater Israel" concepts. Huckabee's comments may reflect more than personal opinion—they could signal policy direction.

The Broader Implications

What makes this controversy particularly significant is its timing. As Trump returns to office, his administration's Middle East approach is under intense scrutiny. Huckabee's appointment as ambassador already raised eyebrows among diplomatic circles, given his history of inflammatory statements about Palestinians and unwavering support for Israeli expansion.

The ambassador's comments also highlight a fundamental tension in US Middle East policy: balancing support for Israel with relationships across the Arab world. Saudi Arabia's demand for State Department clarification suggests even America's regional partners are concerned about the direction of US diplomacy.