Arab and Islamic nations united in condemning recent remarks made by US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, suggesting that Israel possesses a biblical entitlement to a significant portion of the Middle East. Huckabee, a former Baptist minister known for his staunch support of Israel, made these comments during an interview on the podcast of conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, who has been critical of Israel in the past.
During the podcast episode, Carlson probed Huckabee on the interpretation of a biblical passage that some believe justifies Israel’s claim to the land spanning from the river Nile in Egypt to the Euphrates in Syria and Iraq. Huckabee’s response included a statement indicating that it would be acceptable for Israel to claim all of this territory but clarified that Israel was not actively seeking such an extensive expansion, characterizing his initial remark as hyperbolic.
The backlash against Huckabee’s comments intensified as over a dozen Arab and Islamic nations jointly condemned his statements, labeling them as “dangerous and provocative.” The collective statement denouncing the US ambassador’s remarks was released by the foreign ministry of the United Arab Emirates and was endorsed by countries including Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, the State of Palestine, as well as organizations like the OIC, the Arab League, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
