Jared Evan

(TJV NEWS) A lengthy and at times combative interview between controversial commentator Tucker Carlson and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee underscored widening fractures on the American right over Israel, Gaza, and U.S. foreign policy, as The Jerusalem Post reported.

The two-and-a-half-hour episode, filmed February 18 inside the diplomatic terminal at Ben-Gurion Airport, followed a public exchange between the former Fox News hosts that had already drawn attention, The Jerusalem Post reported. Carlson did not leave the airport complex during his visit.

Before the sit-down began, Carlson delivered a 25-minute monologue sharply criticizing Israel, the U.S. Embassy, and Huckabee personally. Throughout the discussion, he repeatedly accused the ambassador of placing Israeli interests above those of the United States — citing civilian casualties in Gaza, Huckabee’s meeting with Jonathan Pollard, allegations about fugitive sex offenders, and the prospect of confrontation with Iran.

At one tense moment, Huckabee gestured toward his American flag pin and asked, “What flag am I wearing here?” Carlson replied that it was “my flag as well,” but continued pressing him.

TJV does not endorse Carlson’s view’s, the video is posted for educatiional purposes

Pollard and Embassy Meeting

Carlson opened by challenging Huckabee over a meeting with Jonathan Pollard, who was convicted in the 1980s of spying for Israel. Carlson described Pollard as one of the most damaging spies in modern U.S. history and cited  remarks Pollard made in a 2021 interview encouraging Jewish Americans to prioritize Israel.

Huckabee said the meeting lasted about 30 minutes and followed condolences he had sent after Pollard’s wife died. He stressed it was not secretive and took place openly at the embassy.

Pollard was sentenced to life in prison but served approximately 30 years before being paroled in 2015. As The Jerusalem Post reported, debates persist among intelligence officials about the relative damage caused by Pollard compared to other Cold War spies.

Gaza, “Amalek,” and Genocide Claims

The sharpest exchange centered on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s October 2023 remarks referencing “Amalek” as Israel launched ground operations in Gaza.

Carlson argued that invoking the biblical passage amounted to a call for genocide, citing violent verses from 1 Samuel. Huckabee rejected that interpretation, saying the remark was likely metaphorical and part of Jewish historical language referencing existential threats.

The Prime Minister’s Office has maintained that Netanyahu quoted Deuteronomy’s commandment to “remember,” not the more violent passage Carlson cited. Israel’s legal team has also rejected genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice.

When the conversation shifted to civilian casualties, Carlson repeatedly demanded figures. Huckabee said Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry numbers are unreliable but acknowledged that “thousands” of children had likely died, calling it “thousands too many.” He defended the IDF’s warning systems — including text messages, leaflets, and evacuation maps — as unprecedented in modern warfare, though he could not cite specific casualty ratios.

Epstein Allegations and Israeli Leaders

Carlson also raised unverified allegations related to the massive January 2026 U.S. Justice Department document release concerning Jeffrey Epstein. He suggested that Israeli President Isaac Herzog “apparently was at Pedo Island,” referencing a single mention of “Herzog” buried in millions of pages.

As The Jerusalem Post reported, no major investigative outlet has confirmed that the reference pertains to the Israeli president, and no verified evidence has surfaced linking him to Epstein’s island. Huckabee declined to engage with the allegation.

Carlson also referenced documented ties between former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Epstein, which have been widely reported and photographed.

Christians, Law of Return, and Minority Rights

Another major theme involved the status of Christians in Israel. Carlson claimed Christian numbers had declined since the state’s founding. However, Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics data show growth from roughly 34,000 in 1949 to around 185,000 today, as The Jerusalem Post reported.

Carlson also cited incidents of ultra-Orthodox Jews spitting on clergy in Jerusalem’s Old City. Huckabee condemned the behavior as “horrible,” comparing it to antisemitic attacks in New York, but described the perpetrators as a fringe minority.

In one of his more forceful rebuttals, Huckabee pointed to Arab Israeli civic participation, noting that Arab citizens serve in the Knesset and on the Supreme Court. He referenced Judge George Karra’s conviction of former President Moshe Katsav as evidence of minority integration in Israel’s judiciary.

Aid, Iran, and Aftermath

The conversation concluded with debate over U.S. military aid and Iran. Carlson argued Netanyahu has long pushed Washington toward regime change in Tehran. Huckabee countered that Iran is independently designated a threat by the United States, citing its backing of Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

Following the interview, Carlson alleged airport officials detained his producers for questioning. Israeli authorities disputed that characterization, saying routine security procedures were followed.

Within hours of returning to the U.S., Carlson released a new episode alleging Israel is “purging” Christians — further fueling controversy around a trip that, as The Jerusalem Post reported, has intensified an already heated debate within conservative circles over America’s role in the Middle East.