Arabic version: تصريحات هوكابي حول حدود إسرائيل تثير صرخة دولية
United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has triggered an avalanche of criticism from Arab and Muslim countries after suggesting Israel has a right to expand its territory across a large swath of the Middle East. Huckabee delivered the remarks during a sit-down interview with US commentator Tucker Carlson, broadcast on Friday, as he was pressed about the geographical borders of Israel.
According to Al Jazeera, Huckabee, a self-professed Christian Zionist, responded affirmatively when asked if Israel could claim land from the Euphrates River in Iraq to the Nile River in Egypt. He stated, “It would be fine if they took it all,” referring to an area that includes modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia.
The backlash was swift, with Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the League of Arab States condemning Huckabee’s comments. The Saudi foreign ministry labeled them as “extremist rhetoric” and urged the US Department of State to clarify Huckabee’s position. Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the remarks a “blatant violation” of international law, asserting that “Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other Arab lands.”
Jordan’s foreign ministry dismissed Huckabee’s assertions as “absurd and provocative,” emphasizing that they violate diplomatic norms and infringe upon the sovereignty of states in the region. The League of Arab States echoed this sentiment, stating that such statements serve only to inflame sentiments and stir religious and national emotions.
Huckabee later appeared to walk back the claim, saying it was “somewhat of a hyperbolic statement” and asserting that Israel is not looking to expand its territory. However, his history of opposing a two-state solution and denying the existence of an illegal Israeli occupation has drawn scrutiny. The International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory is illegal and must cease immediately.
Huckabee’s remarks come at a time when Israeli law does not clearly define the country’s borders, and following its military engagements in the region, including the establishment of outposts in Lebanon. Notably, some Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have openly promoted the idea of a “Greater Israel” with expanded borders.
