They Condemn US Ambassador Who Said Israel Can Occupy the West Bank
Condemnation has poured in after the United States Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, indicated that Israel has the right to most of the Middle East, including the West Bank. The remarks were deemed contrary to international law and inconsistent with peace efforts in the region.
As quoted from AP News on Sunday (22/2/2026), Huckabee’s statement came during an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson broadcast on Friday. Carlson said that according to the Bible, the descendants of Abraham would receive land that essentially encompasses the entire Middle East. He then asked Huckabee whether Israel had a right to that land.
Huckabee responded that it would be “no problem if they took it all.” However, he added that Israel was not seeking to expand its territory and had the right to security in territories it legitimately controlled.
The remarks triggered fierce reactions from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and the League of Arab States.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Huckabee’s statement as “extremist rhetoric” and “unacceptable.” Saudi Arabia called on the US State Department to clarify its position.
Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs likewise called Huckabee’s remarks a “flagrant violation” of international law. The Egyptian foreign ministry also stated that Israel holds no sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territories or any other Arab territories.
“Statements of this kind, extremist and without solid basis, will only inflame tensions and stoke religious and nationalist sentiments,” the League of Arab States said in its statement.
There was no immediate comment from either Israel or the United States on the Huckabee controversy.
Indonesia Joins the Condemnation
Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned Huckabee’s remarks. Indonesia assessed that the statement threatened security stability in the Middle East and the Gaza Strip.
The condemnation was conveyed by the Indonesian foreign ministry in a joint statement with a number of Middle Eastern countries. They affirmed that the US Ambassador’s remarks were unacceptable.
“Expressing strong condemnation and deep concern regarding the statements made by the United States Ambassador to Israel, which indicated that it would be acceptable for Israel to control territories belonging to Arab states, including the occupied West Bank,” the Indonesian foreign ministry wrote on its X account on Sunday (22/2/2026).
Indonesia firmly rejected the US Ambassador’s claim that Israel has the right to control most of the Middle East. Indonesia said the statement was contrary to international law and the United Nations Charter.
In the joint statement, Indonesia and the Middle Eastern nations also said Ambassador Huckabee’s remarks were inconsistent with US President Donald Trump’s vision for peace in Palestine. They stated that efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict must be based on ensuring Palestine has an independent state and on tolerance for coexistence in the Middle East.
“They underscored that the plan is based on promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and that statements seeking to legitimise control over other people’s land undermine these objectives, fuel tensions, and constitute incitement rather than advancing peace,” the Indonesian foreign ministry wrote.
Indonesia, together with Arab nations, also reaffirmed that Israel holds no sovereignty over Palestinian territories or any other Middle Eastern territories.
“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 states,” the Indonesian foreign ministry wrote.
In recent months, Israel has sought to deepen its control over the occupied West Bank. Israel has expanded the construction of Jewish settlements, legalised settlement outposts, and made significant bureaucratic changes to its policies in the territory. On the other hand, US President Donald Trump has said he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank and would block such a move.
For decades, Palestinians have called for the establishment of an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza with East Jerusalem as its capital — a demand supported by most of the international community.
Huckabee is an evangelical Christian and a strong supporter of Israel and the settlement movement in the West Bank. He has long rejected the idea of a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. In an interview last year, he said he did not believe in referring to the Arab descendants of Palestinian residents from the British Mandate era as “Palestinians.”