Palestine slams US envoy's call for Israeli rule over Middle East

2026-02-22 - 06:52

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has issued a strong condemnation of recent statements made by the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who openly endorsed Israeli expansion across the Middle East. In an interview with journalist Tucker Carlson, Huckabee argued for a biblical right for Israel to control land from the Nile River to the Euphrates, stating, "It would be fine if they took it all." Ramallah: Remarks Incite Sovereignty Violation In an official statement released Saturday, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry declared that Huckabee's comments represent "an explicit call to violate the sovereignty of states." The ministry asserted that the remarks contradict religious and historical facts, as well as international law. Ramallah also highlighted the inconsistency between the ambassador's rhetoric and US President Donald Trump's publicly declared position rejecting the annexation of the occupied West Bank. The ministry further characterized the statements as "provocative," arguing they provide political cover for Israel to continue "war of genocide and displacement" against the Palestinian people. It noted that the international community unanimously regards the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as occupied Palestinian territory under international law. Call for Clarification from Washington The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called upon the United States to take a clear and explicit position distancing itself from Huckabee's remarks. It urged Washington to reaffirm the principles outlined in President Trump's vision for achieving peace in the Middle East, which includes ending wars and rejecting annexation. The ministry stressed that such expansionist rhetoric undermines efforts to reach a lasting resolution and "do not help achieve President Trump's vision for lasting peace." Context of 'Greater Israel' Ideology Huckabee, an evangelical Christian appointed as ambassador in April 2025, has a long history of supporting expansionist claims based on a perceived "divine right" for Israel in the West Bank. His views align with the "Greater Israel" concept in Israeli politics, a term used to advocate for the expansion of Israeli territory to include the West Bank, Gaza, and the Golan Heights. This ideology has been publicly echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has spoken of being on a "historic and spiritual mission" connected to this vision.