In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Arab and Islamic nations have issued a strong joint condemnation of remarks made by US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. During a podcast with far-right commentator Tucker Carlson, Huckabee voiced the controversial opinion that Israel has a biblical right to a large expanse of territory spanning from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates in Syria and Iraq, stating, “It would be fine if they took it all.” Despite trying to downplay his comments as “somewhat of a hyperbolic statement,” the backlash was swift and severe.
On Sunday, a coalition comprising over a dozen Arab and Islamic governments, alongside prominent regional organizations including the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, released a statement condemning Huckabee’s remarks as “dangerous and inflammatory.” The UAE’s foreign ministry facilitated this united response, with signatories including Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and others emphasizing that Huckabee’s comments contradicted the UN Charter and undermined efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution in the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Iran’s foreign ministry also joined the condemnation, accusing Huckabee of revealing “American active complicity” in Israel’s “expansionist wars of aggression” against Palestinians. Earlier reactions from individual nations echoed this sentiment, with Saudi Arabia labeling Huckabee’s comments as “reckless” and “irresponsible.” Jordan considered them an affront to the sovereignty of regional countries, while Kuwait characterized the remarks as a “flagrant violation of the principles of international law.” Oman expressed concern that such statements jeopardize prospects for peace and stability in the region.
Egypt’s foreign ministry reiterated that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories or any other Arab lands, and the Palestinian Authority publicly stated that Huckabee’s words contradicted former US President Donald Trump’s rejection of Israeli annexation of the West Bank.
In a bid to clarify some of the topics discussed during the podcast, Huckabee took to social media on Saturday; however, he did not address the controversial biblical land claim. The speaker of the Israeli parliament, Amir Ohana, publicly defended Huckabee, praising his pro-Israel stance and accusing Carlson of perpetuating “falsehoods and manipulations.” Amidst this controversy, Carlson himself has faced scrutiny over allegations of antisemitism, notably following an interview with Nick Fuentes, a self-described white nationalist who has made deeply offensive comments regarding Jews and the Holocaust.
The unfolding situation underscores the growing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, as statements perceived as provocative by foreign officials resonate strongly in a region already fraught with conflict.
