What is Christian Zionism, the pro-Israel ideology invoked by US ambassador

EXPLAINER News | Israel-Palestine conflict What is Christian Zionism, the pro-Israel ideology invoked by US ambassador Mike Huckabee’s suggestion that Israel has God-given right to much of Middle East is rooted in Christian Zionist theology, experts say. Listen to this article | 13 mins By Urooba Jamal Published On 23 Feb 2026 23 Feb 2026 Click here to share on social media Share Save United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has faced condemnation from Arab and Muslim countries after suggesting Israel has a biblical right to much of the Middle East. In an interview with prominent right-wing American commentator Tucker Carlson, Huckabee suggested that Israel has a God-given right to land stretching from the Euphrates River to the Nile, which would encompass Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and parts of Saudi Arabia. Recommended Stories list of 3 items list 1 of 3 US envoy suggests it would be ‘fine’ if Israel expands across Middle East list 2 of 3 ‘Absurd and provocative’: Huckabee faces firestorm for Israel border stance list 3 of 3 Tucker Carlson says passport seized, staff interrogated at Israeli airport end of list “ It would be fine if they took it all,” he said, arguing that the geographical borders of Israel are rooted in the Bible, a belief shared by Christian Zionists. The US diplomat, a self-professed Christian Zionist and staunch supporter of Israel, later walked back his comments, calling them “somewhat hyperbolic” and adding that Israel is not seeking expansion but has a right to security within its current borders. But were his comments indeed hyperbolic in the Christian Zionist worldview? Or is that precisely what he and his fellow proponents of the ideology believe? How did Christian Zionism begin, and what are its tenets? In 1878, William Blackstone, a student of the prominent American evangelist Dwight Moody and a believer in the biblical restoration of Israel, published a book titled Jesus Is Coming. The best-selling work popularised among Americans ...