Washington says Huckabee remarks on Israel and the Middle East were taken out of context

The United States has sought to clarify comments made by its ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, after his remarks about Israel’s rights in the Middle East sparked widespread criticism across Arab and Islamic countries.

The controversy followed an interview between Huckabee and journalist Tucker Carlson, during which Carlson referred to a biblical passage describing a divine promise granting the descendants of the Prophet Abraham land extending from the Nile Valley to the Euphrates River — an area encompassing much of the Middle East.

Huckabee replied that he was unsure whether the promise extended that far, but said it would represent “a large piece of land”. He added that Israel is “a land God gave to a chosen people”, stating that it would be “acceptable if they took it all”, in reference to the territories mentioned.

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A spokesperson for the US embassy said on Sunday that the ambassador’s comments had been taken out of context and stressed that there had been no change in official US policy toward Israel.

The remarks nevertheless triggered strong regional reactions. In a joint statement, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Syria, Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman, alongside Palestinian representatives and several Arab organisations, described the comments as “dangerous and inflammatory” and warned they could threaten regional stability.

The statement added that the remarks contradict the vision promoted by US President Donald Trump, which focuses on containing escalation and creating a political pathway toward a comprehensive settlement guaranteeing the Palestinian people an independent state.

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