Over a dozen Arab and Muslim-majority countries have jointly condemned comments by former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, after he suggested that Israel could be justified, on Biblical grounds, in taking control of a vast region of the Middle East.
Huckabee made the remarks during an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, when asked whether Israel had a Biblical right to territory stretching from the Nile River to the Euphrates — encompassing much of the modern Middle East.
In response, Huckabee said “it would be fine if it took it all,” but later described the statement as “hyperbolic” and clarified that Israel was not aiming to occupy the entire region. He added that Israel was seeking to retain the land it currently occupies and ensure security for its citizens. The remarks triggered immediate diplomatic backlash.
In a joint statement issued by the United Arab Emirates on behalf of several nations, including Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia and others, Huckabee’s remarks were described as “dangerous and inflammatory.” The statement said the comments threatened regional stability and undermined efforts to end the war in Gaza.
The statement emphasized that any suggestion of Israeli sovereignty over occupied Arab territories, including the West Bank, violates international law. It also reaffirmed support for a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The declaration was further endorsed by regional organisations such as the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Huckabee has previously expressed support for Israeli annexation of the West Bank, a position that contrasts with longstanding U.S. policy supporting a negotiated two-state solution.
Since capturing the territory in the 1967 war, Israel has expanded settlements in the West Bank. These settlements are widely considered illegal under international law, including a 2024 advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice — a finding rejected by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The controversy comes amid ongoing conflict in Gaza following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military response. The diplomatic fallout underscores persistent tensions over sovereignty, annexation, and the broader future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
