Arab states fume over Huckabee remarks on Israel’s biblical borders

Several Arab countries on Saturday sharply condemned remarks by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee as “absurd and provocative,” unacceptable and contrary to international law, after he publicly endorsed Israel’s control over vast parts of the Middle East. In a podcast interview with Tucker Carlson released Friday, Huckabee defended Israel’s actions in Gaza, invoked “divine providence” as justification, and said Israel has a biblical right to territory “from the Nile to the Euphrates,” adding “it would be fine if they (Israel) took it all.” When Carlson asked which river was meant by the biblical “river of Egypt,” the report noted scholarly disagreement—some identify it as a Sinai riverbed, others as the Nile. Several Arab governments strongly condemned recent remarks by US official Mike Huckabee endorsing Israeli sovereignty over occupied Palestinian land. Jordan called the comments “absurd and provocative,” saying they violate diplomatic norms, international law and UN principles and contradict President Trump’s stated rejection of West Bank annexation. Egypt denounced the comments as a departure from international law, reiterated that Israel has no sovereignty over occupied Palestinian or Arab territories, and rejected any attempt to annex or separate Judea and Samaria from Gaza. Saudi Arabia slammed the remarks as reckless, urged the US to clarify its position, and said only a two-state solution on the 1967 borders with eastern Jerusalem as the Palestinian capital can deliver lasting peace. Oman likewise condemned the statements, affirmed Palestinian self-determination, and warned the rhetoric undermines regional security and prospects for peace.