US ambassador's Israel comments condemned by Arab and Muslim nations

February 22, 2026

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee sparked international outrage after telling conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that Israel would be justified in controlling a large portion of the Middle East based on Biblical scripture, though he later called his remarks "hyperbolic. " More than a dozen Arab and Muslim governments, along with regional organizations, issued a joint statement condemning the comments as dangerous and threatening to peace efforts in Gaza. The ambassador's statements align with his longstanding support for Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank, a position that contradicts established US policy and international law.

Who is affected

Arab and Muslim governments including Jordan, Egypt, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Turkey
The State of Palestine
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Arab League, and Gulf Cooperation Council
Approximately 3.3 million Palestinians living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem
700,000 Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank
Over 72,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza's ongoing conflict
Israel and its government

What action is being taken

Arab and Muslim governments are issuing joint statements condemning Huckabee's remarks
Israeli settlements are expanding in the West Bank (expansion has risen sharply since late 2022)
Israel is conducting a military offensive in Gaza (ongoing since October 7, 2023)

Why it matters

These comments from a senior US diplomatic official undermine international law and decades of established US policy regarding Israeli settlements and Palestinian statehood. The remarks threaten ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza war and establish a comprehensive settlement that includes an independent Palestinian state. By suggesting Biblical justification for territorial expansion, the ambassador's statements inflame tensions in an already volatile region and contradict the current US administration's stated goal of creating a political path toward peace, potentially damaging America's credibility as a mediator in the Middle East peace process.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC