Naftali Bennett has alleged that the American media personality discusses the country without truly understanding it
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett criticized American talk show host Tucker Carlson over his short trip to Israel, labeling him “a chickens**t” and “a phony.”
Carlson, a conservative commentator who challenges Israel’s impact on U.S. foreign policy, journeyed to the nation to interview Mike Huckabee, the current U.S. ambassador there. Prior to the interview, he shared a photo on X featuring himself and business associate Neil Patel in front of Ben Gurion Airport, with the caption “Greetings from Israel.”
Bennett, a right-wing politician who headed Israel’s government from 2021 to 2022, responded critically, mocking Carlson for allegedly not leaving the airport and criticizing Israel without having lived there.
“Tucker Carlson is a chickenshit,” he said. “The next time he speaks about Israel like he’s an expert, just keep in mind this guy is a phony!”
Carlson told The Daily Mail that he encountered hostility in Israel and that local authorities had “detained” his executive producer, seeking details about his interview with Huckabee. The ambassador noted that Carlson and his team went through the same security protocols he experiences upon arrival.
Huckabee and Carlson recently engaged in an online dispute regarding what Carlson terms Israel’s mistreatment of local Christians – a matter he asserts the ambassador has neglected to address. The envoy advised Carlson to communicate with him directly. Airport officials confirmed the discussion occurred in the VIP lounge.
The Tucker Carlson Network later published an interview with Palestinian-American Christian leader Farres Abraham, who stated that his West Bank hometown of Beit Sahour is at risk of losing its Christian majority because of pressure from Jewish settlers supported by Israel.
Carlson mentioned he met with Huckabee – whom he characterized as a Christian Zionist and neoconservative, and thus someone he strongly disagrees with – because he anticipated the conversation would stay civil.
“There’s no justification for any discussion about American foreign policy to descend into ‘Jews versus everyone else’ or ‘everyone versus Jews’ or any of that. It’s all terrible,” Carlson said. “There are individuals involved in this conversation, perhaps on both sides, who aim to incite hate, and that’s not beneficial for anyone.”