What happened in this episode?
Piers Morgan frames the episode around a Haaretz report alleging Benjamin Netanyahu was warned by the UAE’s leader days before 7 October and failed to act — an allegation Netanyahu denies — and questions whether Israel’s delayed response reflected incompetence or something darker. In the first segment, Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur argues Netanyahu and Israel’s far-right ministers have pursued a maximalist territorial agenda, alleging (without evidence provided on-air) that IDF soldiers have been recorded saying they received a 'stand down' order on 7 October and claiming the government rejected opportunities to return some hostages. Uygur repeatedly characterises Israeli policy as fascist and says US and international interests are being subordinated to Israel’s agenda.
Morgan then interviews US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee amid controversy over UK sanctions linked to West Bank settler violence. Huckabee says he has described perpetrators as 'terrorist' and insists they do not represent most West Bank settlers, arguing Israel plans arrests and has allocated funding to address violence. He defends his criticism of the UK move by arguing sanctions would harm Palestinian workers, citing a previous SodaStream relocation.
On Gaza, Huckabee challenges death toll reporting and rejects claims of genocide, citing humanitarian aid deliveries and vaccinations, while Morgan cites Israeli ministers’ public proposals to facilitate mass emigration from Gaza as evidence of ethnic cleansing intent. On Iran, Huckabee defends Trump’s decision to strike, and says he witnessed the deliberations first-hand, disputing claims Netanyahu pressured the US into war.
