Fourteen countries condemned U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee for comments claiming Israel has “biblical right” to control territory from Nile to Euphrates.
Huckabee’s Comments on Israel’s Territorial Claims
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that Israel has a “biblical right” to take control of the entire area including Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, parts of Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Huckabee remarked, “It would be fine if they took everything.”
Joint Condemnation from Fourteen Countries
Foreign ministers of fourteen countries expressed “strong condemnation and deep concern” over Huckabee’s remarks. The signatories included Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine, along with representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Arab League, and Gulf Cooperation Council.
The statement emphasized that the signatories “categorically reject the dangerous and provocative” remarks, noting they “constitute a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter and seriously threaten the security and stability” of the Middle East.
Contradiction with Trump’s Gaza Plan
The statement also noted that the U.S. ambassador’s words directly contradict Donald Trump’s vision for ending the conflict in Gaza. It was highlighted that the remarks increase tensions in the Middle East and do not promote peace.
Religious Justification for “Greater Israel”
Mike Huckabee referenced the concept of “Greater Israel,” which posits Israel should control territory from the Nile to the Euphrates based on the biblical covenant between God and Abraham. The U.S. ambassador stated, “Israel is the land that God gave to the people He chose through Abraham,” though he added that Israeli authorities currently do not seek territorial expansion.