‘It would be fine if they took it all’: US envoy Mike Huckabee cites Biblical text to claim Israel’s right to entire Middle East

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Saturday said Israel has the Biblical right to take over what constitutes large swathes of the Middle East. The former Republican governor made the statement in an interview with American right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson while referring to the Book of Genesis of the Old Testament. When Tucker asked why Huckabee cited the Book of Genesis three times and questioned if he believed that Israel has the right to take over land in the Middle East, the Baptist minister replied, “It would be fine if they took it all.” In the episode of the Tucker Carlson Network, the former Fox host pointed out that Huckabee appealed to Genesis 15, which says that God gave Abram the news that his descendants would inherit the land from the rivers Euphrates (running through present-day Iraq and Syria) to the Nile (in Egypt). “That would include basically the entire Middle East, that would be the Levant; that would be Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon. That would also be big parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq,” Tucker pointed out. Huckabee replied: “Not sure it would go that far. I mean, it would be a big piece of land. Here’s the point…this particular area that we’re talking about now – Israel – is a land that God gave through Abraham to a people that he chose. It was a people, a place and a purpose. We can look at it that way.” > BREAKING: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee tells Tucker Carlson that Israel has the Biblical right to take over all of the Middle East. “It would be fine if they took it all.” pic.twitter.com/BN4fXh03ga — Tucker Carlson Network (@TCNetwork) February 20, 2026 BREAKING: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee tells Tucker Carlson that Israel has the Biblical right to take over all of the Middle East. “It would be fine if they took it all.” pic.twitter.com/BN4fXh03ga — Tucker Carlson Network (@TCNetwork) February 20, 2026 ## What is Book of Genesis? Genesis – the text Carlson and Huckabee cited – is the first of the five books of the Torah, and consequently the first book of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament. The Jewish people, who consider the Torah their most sacred text, view themselves as the children of Abraham, the name given to Abram in Genesis 17:4-8. According to the text, Abram’s descendants would inherit the land of Canaan, spanning from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates. “You have said three times that God gave this land to these people…what land are you talking about…that land, I think, it says from the Nile to the Euphrates, which is basically the entire Middle East. So, God gave that land to his people — the Jews — or he didn’t. You’re saying he did. What does that mean? Does Israel have the right to that land?” “It would be fine if they took it all,” Huckabee replied. The Express Global Desk at The Indian Express delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read More