Arab states condemn US envoy's remarks on Israeli land from Nile to Euphrates
The controversy followed an interview between Huckabee and commentator Tucker Carlson, in which Carlson referenced a biblical verse often interpreted by some as granting Israel land stretching from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in Syria and Iraq
More than a dozen Arab and Muslim-majority countries, along with three regional organisations, have condemned remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee after he appeared to endorse a biblical interpretation of Israel's territorial claims in the Middle East.
The controversy followed an interview between Huckabee and commentator Tucker Carlson, in which Carlson referenced a biblical verse often interpreted by some as granting Israel land stretching from the Nile River in Egypt to the Euphrates River in Syria and Iraq, says Arab News.
Responding to that interpretation, Huckabee said, "It would be fine if they took it all," before later clarifying that Israel was "not asking to take all of that" and that his earlier comment "was somewhat of a hyperbolic statement".
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In a joint statement signed by more than a dozen governments, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Turkiye and Pakistan, as well as the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the ambassador's comments were described as "dangerous and inflammatory".
The statement said the remarks "contravene the UN Charter and efforts to de-escalate the Gaza war and advance a political horizon for a comprehensive settlement".
Saudi Arabia described the words as "reckless" and "irresponsible". Jordan called the remarks "an assault on the sovereignty of the countries of the region". Kuwait termed the comments a "flagrant violation of the principles of international law", while Oman said they "threatened the prospects for peace" and regional stability.
Egypt's Foreign Ministry reaffirmed "that Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or any other Arab lands".
The Palestinian Authority said the words "contradict US President Donald Trump's rejection of (Israel) annexing the West Bank".
Iran's Foreign Ministry accused Huckabee of revealing "American active complicity" in Israel's "expansionist wars of aggression".
Within Israel, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana criticised Carlson, accusing the podcast host of "falsehoods and manipulations".
Huckabee has since used social media to clarify aspects of the interview but has not directly addressed or withdrawn his remark concerning the biblical land verse.
