Tucker Carlson says passport seized, staff interrogated at Israeli airport

Israeli officers deny detaining the right-wing determine, calling the questioning routine and performed to make sure privateness.

Conservative United States podcaster Tucker Carlson has claimed Israeli authorities briefly took his passport and interrogated one in every of his crew members at the airport after the presenter performed an interview with US ambassador Mike Huckabee, based on media stories.

In The Day by day Mail and The New York Put up, printed on Wednesday, Carlson mentioned that shortly after the interview with the diplomat, Israeli officers confiscated his passport and took one in every of his colleagues off to an interrogation room.

“Males who recognized themselves as airport safety took our passports, hauled our govt producer right into a aspect room after which demanded to know what we spoke to Ambassador Huckabee about,” Carlson reportedly mentioned.

Israel rejected the stories. Oren Marmorstein, Israel’s Overseas Ministry spokesperson, mentioned that the previous Fox Information host was “politely requested a couple of routine questions, in accordance with normal procedures utilized to many travellers”.

“The dialog came about in a separate room throughout the VIP lounge solely to guard their privateness and to keep away from conducting such a dialogue in public,” he added.

Carlson travelled to Israel and performed the interview at Ben Gurion Worldwide Airport with out exiting the advanced earlier than returning to the US, Israeli media reported.

There have been no feedback or statements on the podcaster’s web site or social media accounts.

The interview was organised following a public spat between the 2 about an episode printed by Carlson on the therapy of Christians in Israel. Huckabee responded by inviting the presenter to go to Israel and speak to him straight.

The podcaster, one of the vital influential voices of the MAGA motion, has grown more and more important of Israel. His criticism has created a rift throughout the Republican celebration, which has for many years held unified and unequivocal assist for Israel.