“Mr. Carlson and his party were politely asked a few routine questions, in accordance with standard procedures,” the Israeli Airports Authority said.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee and the Israel Airports Authority refuted conservative podcaster Tucker Carlson’s claim that he received “bizarre” treatment at the hands of Israeli security during his recent visit to the Jewish state.
Carlson complained that he was questioned by security staff on Wednesday following his interview with Huckabee at Ben-Gurion International Airport, which came about after the ambassador had challenged him to an interview.
“Men who identified themselves as airport security took our passports, hauled our executive producer into a side room and then demanded to know what we spoke to Ambassador Huckabee about,” Carlson told Britain’s Daily Mail, which ran the story under the sensationalist headline: “Tucker Carlson ‘DETAINED’ in Israel: Journalist ‘dragged into interrogation room’ as explosive interview sparks diplomatic firestorm.”