14 Arab, Islamic Nations Condemn US Ambassador Huckabee’s Israel Expansion Remarks

Last Updated:February 22, 2026, 12:58 IST

Huckabee later sought to clarify his remarks, calling them “somewhat of a hyperbolic statement.”

Fourteen Arab and Islamic countries, along with the secretariats of the Gulf Cooperation Council, League of Arab States, and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, have strongly condemned statements made by the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee.

The backlash came after a televised interview with commentator Tucker Carlson on Friday, during which Huckabee suggested that Israel has the right to expand its borders across significant parts of the Middle East. The discussion focused on Israel’s geographical boundaries and historical territorial claims.

Carlson asked whether a land spanning from the Euphrates River in Iraq to the Nile River in Egypt could be claimed by the modern state of Israel. Responding, Huckabee said, “It would be fine if they took it all."

In a joint statement issued Saturday night from Doha, the foreign ministries of Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, and the State of Palestine described the remarks as “dangerous and inflammatory."

They expressed “profound concern" and “strong condemnation," noting that the comments suggest “it would be acceptable for Israel to exercise control over territories belonging to Arab states, including the occupied West Bank.

"The signatories rejected the statements, affirming that “Israel has no sovereignty whatsoever over the Occupied Palestinian Territory or any other occupied Arab lands."

They said such remarks constitute a “flagrant violation of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations" and “pose a grave threat to the security and stability of the region."

The territory described in the interview would include present-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and parts of Saudi Arabia.

The joint declaration warned that “the continuation of Israel’s expansionist policies and unlawful measures will only inflame violence and conflict in the region" and “undermine the prospects for peace."

The ministries also stressed that the remarks “directly contradict the vision put forward by US President Donald Trump, as well as the US Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict," which are intended to contain escalation and create a political path toward an independent Palestinian state.

Huckabee later sought to clarify his remarks, calling them “somewhat of a hyperbolic statement." He added that Israel is not seeking to enlarge its territory and emphasised the country’s right to security within its current borders.

Despite this, the ministries called for “an end to these incendiary statements," stressing that remarks seeking to “legitimise control over the lands of others" fuel tensions rather than advance peace.

News world 14 Arab, Islamic Nations Condemn US Ambassador Huckabee’s Israel Expansion Remarks

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