Indonesia Condemns US Ambassador's Remarks That Israel Has Right to Most of Middle East
Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned a statement by the United States Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, claiming that Israel has a right to most of the Middle East. Indonesia considers the remarks a threat to security stability in the Middle East and the Gaza Strip.
The condemnation was delivered through a joint statement issued by Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry alongside several Middle Eastern nations. They affirmed that the US Ambassador’s statement is unacceptable.
“Conveying strong condemnation and deep concern regarding the statement made by the United States Ambassador to Israel, which indicated that it is acceptable for Israel to control territories belonging to Arab nations, including the occupied West Bank,” the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s X account posted on Sunday (22/2/2026).
Indonesia firmly rejected the US Ambassador’s claim that Israel has a right to control most of the Middle East, stating that such remarks contradict international law and the United Nations Charter.
In the joint statement, Indonesia and the Middle Eastern nations also noted that Ambassador Huckabee’s remarks are inconsistent with US President Donald Trump’s vision for peace in Palestine. They stated that efforts to resolve the conflict in Gaza must be grounded in ensuring Palestine has an independent state and fostering tolerance for coexistence in the Middle East.
“They underscored that the plan is founded on promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and that statements seeking to legitimise control over others’ land undermine these objectives, fuel tensions, and constitute incitement rather than advancing peace,” the Foreign Ministry wrote.
Indonesia, together with Arab nations, also reaffirmed that Israel holds no sovereignty over Palestinian territory or any other territory in the Middle East.
“The ministries reaffirmed that Israel has absolutely no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories or other occupied Arab territories. They reiterated their firm rejection of any attempt to annex the West Bank or separate it from the Gaza Strip, their strong opposition to the expansion of settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories, and their categorical rejection of any threat to the sovereignty of Arab nations,” the Foreign Ministry stated.
Huckabee made the remarks during an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, broadcast on Friday. Carlson stated that according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham would receive land that currently essentially encompasses the entire Middle East. He then asked Huckabee whether Israel has a right to that land.
Huckabee responded that it would be “no problem if they took it all.” However, he added that Israel is not seeking to expand its territory and has a right to security in the territory it lawfully controls.