Arab and Islamic Governments Unite in Condemnation of US Ambassador's Remarks
Arab and Islamic governments have issued a powerful joint statement condemning remarks made by the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who suggested during a podcast interview that Israel has a biblical right to a vast swath of Middle Eastern territory. The statement, released through the United Arab Emirates' foreign ministry, describes the ambassador's comments as "dangerous and inflammatory" and warns they threaten regional stability.
Controversial Interview Sparks International Backlash
The controversy erupted after Huckabee appeared on Tucker Carlson's podcast, where the host questioned him about biblical interpretations regarding Israel's territorial claims. When pressed about verses sometimes interpreted as granting Israel land from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates in Syria and Iraq, Huckabee initially responded, "It would be fine if they took it all." He later clarified this was "somewhat of a hyperbolic statement" and noted Israel wasn't seeking to claim all that territory.
The backlash intensified dramatically over the weekend as governments across the Arab and Islamic world coordinated their response. Signatories to the joint condemnation include the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, and the State of Palestine. Three major regional organizations—the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council—also endorsed the statement.
Violations of International Law and Peace Efforts
The joint statement asserts that Huckabee's remarks contravene both the United Nations Charter and ongoing diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Gaza conflict while advancing a comprehensive political settlement. Governments emphasized that such statements undermine peace initiatives and regional stability at a particularly sensitive time.
Several nations had already issued individual condemnations before the joint statement was released. Saudi Arabia characterized the ambassador's words as "reckless" and "irresponsible," while Jordan declared them "an assault on the sovereignty of the countries of the region." Kuwait denounced what it called a "flagrant violation of the principles of international law," and Oman warned the comments "threatened the prospects for peace" throughout the Middle East.
Egypt's foreign ministry explicitly reaffirmed "that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or any other Arab lands." The Palestinian Authority added on social media platform X that Huckabee's statements "contradict US President Donald Trump's rejection of Israel annexing the West Bank."
Political Reactions and Clarifications
Huckabee, a former Baptist minister and longtime Israel supporter, published two posts on X on Saturday addressing other topics from the interview but did not directly reference his biblical land remarks. Meanwhile, Israeli parliamentary speaker Amir Ohana praised Huckabee's general pro-Israel stance during the interview while accusing Carlson of spreading "falsehoods and manipulations."
The coordinated international response highlights growing diplomatic tensions surrounding Middle East territorial disputes and the sensitive role of religious interpretations in political discourse. As the controversy continues to develop, observers note the unusual unity among Arab and Islamic governments in their condemnation, suggesting broader implications for regional diplomacy and US foreign policy credibility in the Middle East.
