Montreal, February 25, 2026 — Following alarming statements from top U.S. and Israeli officials in support of Israel’s “right” to take over the entire Middle East, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is urging the Canadian government to speak out and urgently act against Israel’s colonial expansionism, annexation, and regional wars. CJPME warns that these statements in support of the concept of “Greater Israel” should not be taken lightly, as they occur as Israel is expanding its control over Palestine and Syria, bombing Lebanon, and threatening war with Iran.

“We are deeply concerned about statements like that from the US ambassador to Israel, and now, Israel’s Opposition leader, which endorse Israel’s messianic ambitions for regional supremacy and colonial expansion,” said Yara Shoufani, President of CJPME. “Such aspirations are directly at odds with Canada’s foreign policy positions, and foreshadow future war and violations of international law. ”

In a recent controversial interview with far-right personality Tucker Carlson, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said that Israel had a biblical right to take over much of the Middle East, and that “it would be fine if they took it all.” His interview was met with applause from Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and even so-called “centrist” Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid asserted that he agrees with Israel’s right to expand as far as Iraq. Speaking at a news conference, Lapid stated: “Zionism is based on the Bible. Our mandate over the land of Israel is biblical, [and] the biblical borders of the land of Israel are clear… Therefore, the borders are the borders of the Bible.” The concept of “Greater Israel” goes back to Theodor Herzl, who wrote that the Jewish state should stretch “from the Brook of Egypt to the Euphrates.”

Huckabee’s statements also indicated U.S. support for Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank. Huckabee repeatedly referred to Area C – 60% of the West Bank – as belonging to Israel. This is despite the findings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful. At the same time, the U.S. Embassy has begun to offer diplomatic services within Israeli settlements for the first time. This apparent change in the U.S. position coincides with Israel’s acceleration of its push to annex the West Bank through a series of sweeping policy changes.

“We call on the Canadian government to forcefully reject U.S. policy on this issue, which is explicitly rooted in theology rather than international law. Canada must impose serious sanctions on Israel in order to forcefully discourage further land theft,” added Shoufani.