The Foreign Ministries of Saudi Arabia and 13 regional countries, alongside the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), the Arab League (AL), and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), strongly denounced remarks by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, in which he claimed Israel has a biblical right to vast Middle Eastern territories.
Huckabee’s remarks stirred backlash across the Arab and Islamic worlds, where they were rejected as “dangerous and inflammatory” and viewed as an assault on the sovereignty of the region’s countries.
Rejecting Inflammatory Remarks
In a joint statement on Sunday, the Foreign Ministries of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, Türkiye, Syria, Palestine, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, and Bahrain, alongside the GCC, AL and OIC, strongly condemned Huckabee’s remarks.
They voiced deep concern over the US Ambassador’s statements, in which he suggested that it would be acceptable for Israel to exercise control over territories belonging to Arab states, including the occupied West Bank.
The statement stressed categorical rejection of this dangerous and inflammatory rhetoric, which violates the principles of international law and the UN Charter and threatens the region’s security and stability.
A Threat to Peace Efforts
The statement noted that these remarks contravene the vision put forward by US President Donald Trump and the comprehensive peace plan to end the war in Gaza, which calls for de-escalation and advancing a political horizon for a comprehensive settlement that ensures the establishment of an independent Palestinian State.
This plan is grounded in promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence, the statement said, warning that remarks seeking to legitimize control over the lands of others undermine these objectives, fuel tensions, and constitute incitement rather than advancing peace.
In light of this, the statement reiterated that Israel has no sovereignty whatsoever over the occupied Palestinian Territory or any other occupied Arab lands.
It also voiced firm rejection of any attempts to annex the West Bank or separate it from the Gaza Strip, and strong opposition to the expansion of settlement activities the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Importantly, the statement categorically rejected any threat to the sovereignty of Arab states.
Expansionist Policies Implications
In their statement, the Foreign Ministries warned that the continuation of Israel’s expansionist policies and illegal measures will only inflame violence and conflict in the region and undermine peace prospects. In this context, the statement urged for an end to these incendiary statements.
Furthermore, the Foreign Ministries emphasized their countries’ unwavering commitment to the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and the establishment of their own independent state along the borders of June 4, 1967, and the end of the occupation of all Arab lands.
Huckabee’s Controversial Remarks
During an interview with Tucker Carlson on Friday, Huckabee suggested that Israel is entitled to the land between the Nile River in Egypt and the Euphrates in Syria and Iraq – a vast swath of territory spanning much of West Asia.
“It would be fine if they took it all,” Huckabee said, responding to a question regarding the interpretation of a biblical verse about those borders and Israel’s purported right to them.
When challenged, Huckabee moderated his stance, claiming that Israel was not seeking to occupy the entire region, dismissing his earlier remarks as “somewhat of a hyperbolic statement.”
Saudi Arabia Calls for Clarification
Following Huckabee’s controversial remarks, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement denouncing the US Ambassador’s “reckless” and “irresponsible” comments.
“Such statements set a dangerous precedent, particularly as they were issued by a US official, and reflect a disregard for the distinguished relations between the countries of the region and the United States of America,” the statement said.
Furthermore, it warned of the grave consequences of this extremist rhetoric on international peace and security by antagonizing the countries and peoples of the Middle East while undermining the foundations of the international order.
“The US Department of State should clarify its position regarding this rhetoric, which is rejected by all peace-loving nations worldwide,” the statement noted.
Additionally, the statement reaffirmed Saudi Arabia‘s steadfast opposition to any actions that undermine the sovereignty, borders, and territorial integrity of states.
It also stressed that a just and comprehensive peace can only be achieved by ending the occupation and implementing a two-state solution which includes the establishment of an independent Palestinian State along the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
