ISLAMABAD: Pakistan joined 13 other countries in condemning remarks made by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, after he appeared to endorse the idea of Israel expanding its territorial control across large parts of the Middle East, the Foreign Office said on Sunday.
Huckabee made the comments during an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. When asked about Israel’s borders, he referred to biblical descriptions. Carlson noted that the cited passage described land stretching from the Euphrates River in Iraq to the Nile in Egypt. Huckabee responded that it “would be fine if they took it all,” drawing sharp criticism from several countries.
In a joint statement issued a day later, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Indonesia, Kuwait, Oman, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine along with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States, and the Gulf Cooperation Council voiced “deep concern” over the ambassador’s remarks.
The statement described the comments as provocative and irresponsible, arguing that they violate international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter while posing a direct threat to regional stability. The ministers said such rhetoric risks inflaming tensions at a time when diplomatic efforts are focused on de-escalation.
They further noted that the remarks contradict positions previously articulated by US President Donald Trump, as well as broader proposals aimed at ending the Gaza conflict and advancing a political settlement that includes the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
Reaffirming their collective stance, the signatories stressed that Israel has no sovereignty over the Occupied Palestinian Territory or other occupied Arab lands. They rejected any moves to annex the West Bank, separate it from Gaza, or expand settlements, and warned against actions that could undermine the sovereignty of neighboring Arab states.
The joint declaration underscored support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and reiterated commitment to a two-state solution based on the June 4, 1967 borders. The ministers called for an immediate halt to statements and policies that could escalate the situation and further diminish prospects for lasting peace.
