U.S. Ambassador Huckabee’s Biblical Land Claim Sparks Arab League Condemnation and Partial Walk‑Back
Updated (5 articles)
Huckabee’s Genesis‑Based Territorial Assertion In a February 22 interview with Tucker Carlson, U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee asserted that the biblical book of Genesis grants Israel a right to territory stretching from the Nile River to the Euphrates River, adding that “it would be fine if they took it all” [1][2][3][4][5]. He framed the statement as a historical‑and‑biblical justification rather than a policy proposal, while also claiming Israel seeks security for lands it already holds [4]. The remark covered modern states including Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, echoing a literal reading of the Genesis promise [3][5]. Huckabee later posted on X to clarify unrelated topics but did not formally withdraw the territorial claim [1].
Broad Arab and Muslim State Rejection The United Arab Emirates led a joint statement on February 22 denouncing Huckabee’s comments as “dangerous and inflammatory,” a stance backed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, and several Gulf nations [2][3][4]. Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan also signed the condemnation, labeling the remarks a “flagrant violation of international law” and warning they could jeopardize President Donald Trump’s Gaza‑related initiatives [2]. The Arab League issued its own declaration calling the statements “extremist rhetoric” that inflames religious and nationalist sentiments during ongoing peace talks [1][4]. Individual ministries described the comments as a breach of diplomatic norms and the UN Charter [3][4].
Palestinian Authority and UN Warn of Annexation Risks The Palestinian Authority posted on X that Huckabee’s claim contradicts President Trump’s public rejection of any West Bank annexation [1]. A senior United Nations official described recent Israeli actions in the West Bank as a “de‑facto progressive annexation,” echoing Palestinian concerns [1]. Both entities warned that the ambassador’s rhetoric could legitimize further Israeli expansion [2].
Iran Accuses United States of Complicity Iran’s foreign ministry issued a statement accusing the United States of “active complicity” in what it termed Israel’s “expansionist wars of aggression” following Huckabee’s biblical assertion [1]. The Iranian comment framed the ambassador’s remarks as evidence of U.S. endorsement of territorial conquest [1].
Huckabee Clarifies Without Retracting, Calls Remark Hyperbolic After the backlash, Huckabee posted on X to address unrelated definitions of Zionism but did not rescind his original statement [1]. In a follow‑up interview reported by The Hindu, he described the comment as “somewhat hyperbolic,” emphasizing that Israel seeks peace and protection rather than a plan to seize the entire Middle East [5]. No official retraction was issued, leaving the diplomatic controversy unresolved [1][5].
Sources
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1.
Le Monde: US Ambassador’s Biblical Claim Triggers Broad Arab Condemnation: Details Huckabee’s Genesis claim, extensive Arab League joint statement, individual rebukes, Iran’s accusation, and his X clarification without withdrawal .
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2.
CNN: Middle East Nations Condemn US Ambassador Huckabee’s Expansionist Remarks: Highlights UAE‑led joint statement, inclusion of Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan, emphasis on violation of international law and threat to Trump’s Gaza plan, plus note of Huckabee’s 2024 annexation support and Trump’s 2025 reversal .
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Newsweek: Middle East Leaders Condemn U.S. Ambassador’s “Fine If Israel Took It All” Remark: Provides Carlson’s framing of Genesis scope, extensive coalition of Arab ministries, reactions from a former Human Rights Watch director and scholars, underscoring diplomatic norm breach .
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AP: U.S. Ambassador Huckabee’s Claim That Israel Deserves Much of the Middle East Sparks Regional Outcry: Offers background on Israel’s unsettled borders, settlement expansion, Huckabee’s opposition to a two‑state solution, and recent Israeli military moves in Syria and Lebanon .
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5.
The Hindu: U.S. Envoy Mike Huckabee Says Israel Could “Take It All,” Then Walks Back Remark: Reports Huckabee’s hyperbolic description, Jordan’s condemnation, Carlson’s probing of biblical scope, and Huckabee’s later qualification that the comment was not an expansion endorsement .
Timeline
1948 – Israel declares independence; its borders remain unrecognized and contested, laying the foundation for ongoing territorial disputes. [3]
1967 – The Six‑Day War expands Israel’s control to the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula and Golan Heights, dramatically reshaping regional boundaries. [3]
1978 – The Camp David Accords lead to the 1979 peace treaty with Egypt, resulting in Israel’s return of the Sinai Peninsula and establishing a precedent for territorial negotiations. [4]
2005 – Israel withdraws its settlements and military from the Gaza Strip, a move later reversed by the 2023 re‑invasion that leaves Israel in control of more than half of Gaza. [4]
2023 – Israel re‑invades Gaza, establishing de‑facto control over over 50 % of the enclave and intensifying international scrutiny of settlement policies. [4]
2024 (early) – Israel expands into southern Lebanon during the 2024 Hezbollah conflict, establishing hilltop posts that persist into 2025. [4]
Dec 2024 – After the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime, Israel occupies additional positions in the Golan Heights, citing security concerns. [4]
Late 2024 – Israel creates a temporary demilitarized buffer zone in Syria following Assad’s ouster, further extending its frontier. [3]
Nov 2024 – U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee tells Israel’s Army Radio he will implement President Trump’s policy supporting annexation of the occupied West Bank. [1]
Sep 2025 – President Donald Trump publicly announces he will block any annexation of the West Bank, contradicting Huckabee’s earlier stance. [1]
Early 2026 – Trump outlines Gaza‑related initiatives at a Board of Peace meeting in Washington, aiming to rebuild the enclave and negotiate a settlement. [1]
Feb 21, 2026 – In a Tucker Carlson interview, Ambassador Huckabee claims Israel has “historical and biblical rights” from the Nile to the Euphrates and says “it would be fine if they took it all,” invoking Genesis. [5][4]
Feb 21, 2026 – Huckabee later qualifies his statement as “hyperbolic,” emphasizing that Israel seeks security, not territorial expansion. [4]
Feb 21, 2026 – Jordan’s foreign ministry, via Fuad Al‑Majali, condemns the remarks as “absurd and provocative,” violating the UN Charter and President Trump’s anti‑annexation stance. [4]
Feb 21, 2026 – Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Turkey, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, the Palestinian Ministry, the OIC, the League of Arab States and the GCC issue a joint condemnation labeling the comments “irresponsible” and a breach of international law. [2]
Feb 21, 2026 – Human Rights Watch former director Kenneth Roth posts on X that Huckabee “would be happy if Israel took over not only all of Palestine but also much of the rest of the Middle East,” denouncing the view as over‑the‑top. [2]
Feb 21, 2026 – Historians William Dalrymple and Mark Seddon publicly criticize U.S. policy, calling it driven by “fundamentalist nutters” and labeling Huckabee an “evangelical moron.” [2]
Feb 22, 2026 – A joint statement led by the United Arab Emirates and backed by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and others condemns Huckabee’s remarks as “dangerous and inflammatory,” warning they threaten President Trump’s Gaza plan. [1]
Feb 22, 2026 – Iran’s foreign ministry accuses the United States of “active complicity” in Israel’s “expansionist wars of aggression” following the ambassador’s comments. [5]
Feb 22, 2026 – The Palestinian Authority posts on X that Huckabee’s claim contradicts President Trump’s rejection of West Bank annexation, while a senior UN official describes Israel’s recent settlement moves as a “de‑facto progressive annexation.” [5]
Feb 22, 2026 – The Arab League warns that extremist remarks inflame religious and nationalist sentiments during Trump’s upcoming peace council on Gaza reconstruction. [5]
Future 2026 – President Trump is expected to convene a peace council on Gaza reconstruction, where the controversy over Huckabee’s statements may shape diplomatic discussions. [5]
External resources (5 links)
- https://t.co/jTI9EAZezE (cited 1 times)
- https://x.com/ForeignMinistry/status/2025141102030836094 (cited 1 times)
- https://x.com/TCNetwork/status/2024911932092813478 (cited 1 times)
- https://x.com/pmofa/status/2025202492150034557 (cited 1 times)