Ahead of the AIPAC Congressional Summit, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed controversial claims from some media figures that Jewish identity could be verified through genetic testing. Speaking from Jerusalem, Netanyahu firmly rejected these suggestions, emphasizing the deep historical and religious roots of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland and asserting that Israel has been promised to the descendants of Abraham for thousands of years.
Netanyahu specifically countered the idea that modern science could determine who qualifies as Jewish, framing it as both unnecessary and offensive. “The truth is that the Jewish people have lived in our ancestral homeland, the land of Israel, for 3,500 years. The truth is that David set our capital, King David set our capital in Jerusalem 3,000 years ago,” he said, underscoring that Jewish identity is inseparable from history, religion, and culture rather than contemporary genetic testing.
"Radical Voices On The Right Demand That Jews Take DNA Tests… The truth is that the Jewish people have lived in our ancestral homeland, the land of Israel, for 3,500 years. The truth is that David set our capital, King David set our capital in Jerusalem 3,000 years ago" pic.twitter.com/71foTq63uW
— American Gazzete (@AmericanGazzete) February 25, 2026
Drawing directly from the Bible to highlight the Jewish claim to the land, we can look at God’s covenant with Abraham, as described in Genesis 17:8: “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.” You can also look into the promises made to Isaac and Jacob, which reinforced that the land of Israel belongs to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These covenants are the foundation for Jewish connection to Israel, making any attempt to reduce the claim to a DNA test both inaccurate and disrespectful.
The prime minister’s comments came amid a U.S. media debate sparked by conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who suggested using genetic testing to identify Abraham’s descendants. In a segment with Ambassador Mike Huckabee, Carlson questioned whether modern science could resolve historical and theological claims about who has the right to live in Israel. Netanyahu’s remarks directly confronted this perspective, asserting that Jewish identity and the connection to Israel are historically and religiously established, not contingent on contemporary genetics or secular interpretation.
VIDEO: Tucker Carlson 🇶🇦 calls for DNA testing every single Israeli and forcibly expelling everyone who isn't proven to be a descendent of Abraham.
— Max 📟 (@MaxNordau) February 20, 2026
What a psycho.pic.twitter.com/XVNGpMz8N6
Netanyahu also framed the discussion within the broader context of security and ongoing threats to Israel. He noted that challenges to Jewish identity are not merely theoretical; they are part of wider efforts to delegitimize the Jewish people and the state of Israel. By reaffirming the biblical covenant, Netanyahu highlighted the enduring nature of the Jewish connection to the land and reinforced the legitimacy of Israel as the Jewish homeland recognized both historically and internationally.
He tied the biblical claim to the practical realities of Israel’s modern existence, emphasizing the country’s contributions to global security, innovation, and its strategic partnership with the United States. Netanyahu stressed that Israel’s legitimacy, Jewish identity, and historical continuity are intertwined: defending the land, preserving Jewish heritage, and strengthening alliances are inseparable responsibilities. “The truth is that Israel is not a burden to America. Israel is a strategic asset to America. We are partners and no one can appreciate America more than Israel,” he said, framing this alliance as both historically justified and strategically critical.
Netanyahu:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 24, 2026
Israel is not a burden to America.
Israel is a strategic asset to America. pic.twitter.com/wleuVXpt2D
By invoking scripture alongside historical and modern achievements, Netanyahu reinforced that Jewish claims to Israel are longstanding and divinely sanctioned. His address underscored the importance of understanding Jewish identity as rooted in millennia of religious, cultural, and historical continuity, countering both modern reinterpretations and attempts to question that connection through scientific or political means.
