U.S. envoy to Israel Mike Huckabee said in an interview that it would be “fine” if Israel controlled the Middle East, arguing biblical claims give the Jewish state historic rights to the land “from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates,” The Hill reported. 

Speaking with Tucker Carlson, Huckabee suggested Israel seeks only to secure territory it already occupies and rejected accusations of expansionism. Carlson countered that the claim encompassed most of the region.

Huckabee later called his remarks hyperbolic and reiterated support for Israel’s security. He also denied claims by Carlson that Israeli officials confiscated passports during a visit, a charge rejected by the Israel Airports Authority.

The comments come amid ongoing tensions following the Israel-Hamas war, which began after the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas and has devastated the Gaza Strip, where humanitarian concerns remain high.

The State Department and White House declined comment. Former Israeli leader Naftali Bennett criticized Carlson’s account as false.

Read more at The Hill.