Arab and Muslim Nations Condemn US Ambassador's 'Dangerous' Biblical Claim

Arab and Muslim nations on Sunday sharply condemned remarks by theUnited StatesAmbassador to Israel Mike Huckabee after he suggestedIsraelcould claim large parts of the Middle East based on a biblical reading. Speaking on the podcast of far-right commentator and frequent Israel critic Tucker Carlson on Friday, Huckabee said, "It would be fine if they took it all." Huckabee, a former Baptist minister, known as a Christian Zionist and fervent Israel supporter, was responding to Carlson's question about the meaning of a biblical verse sometimes interpreted as saying Israel is entitled to the land between the River Nile in Egypt and the Euphrates in Syria and Iraq. He later backtracked, saying Israel was "not asking to take all of that," adding: "It was somewhat of a hyperbolic statement." In a joint statement released on Sunday, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, the Palestinian Authority, as well as the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council, denounced the remarks. They called Huckabee's comments "dangerous and inflammatory." They said the comments violate the UN Charter and undermine efforts to de-escalate the Gaza war and pursue a comprehensive political solution. They said Israel has no sovereignty over the occupiedPalestinian territoryand reiterated their rejection of any move to annex the West Bank, separate it from Gaza, or expand settlements. The Palestinian Authority said on X that Huckabee's words "contradict US PresidentDonald Trump'srejection of (Israel) annexing the West Bank." In recent months, Israel has expanded its control over theoccupied West Bankby accelerating the construction of settlements — widely seen as illegal under international law — retroactively legalizing settler outposts, and adjusting administrative policies. But Trump has said he will block any Israeli move to annex the territory. Israel has expanded its control over several areas since the war withHamasinGaza, which followed the Hamas-led terror attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Under thecurrent ceasefire, Israeli forces have pulled back to a buffer zone in Gaza but continue to control more than half of the territory. Further withdrawal is stipulated, but no timeline is specified. After Syrian President Bashar Assad was removed from power in late 2024, Israeli forces took control of a demilitarized zone established under the 1974 Israel-Syria ceasefire, describing the move astemporary and focused on border security. Israel also continues to hold five hilltop positions onLebaneseterritory following its brief conflict with Hezbollah in 2024. Edited by: Jenipher Camino Gonzalez