A group of 14 Arab and Muslim-majority countries issued a joint statement on February 22 blasting remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. The former Arkansas governor suggested in an interview that Israel could expand to control vast swaths of the Middle East. Signatories led by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described Huckabee’s words as “dangerous and inflammatory.”

Huckabee made the comments during a discussion with podcaster Tucker Carlson. Carlson asked if Israel had a biblical right to expand its borders across “essentially the entire Middle East.” Huckabee replied, “It would be fine if it took it all.” The ambassador, known for his Christian Zionist views, has long backed expansive Israeli claims tied to biblical promises from the Euphrates River in Iraq to the Nile in Egypt.

The statement drew support from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Endorsers included the foreign ministries of Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and the State of Palestine.

Officials said Huckabee’s position clashes with U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s earlier vision for the region. They pointed to Trump’s Thorough Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, which emphasized de-escalation and a political path to Palestinian statehood. “These statements contradict the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter,” the ministries declared.

The countries reaffirmed that Israel holds “no sovereignty whatsoever” over the Occupied Palestinian Territory or other Arab lands. They rejected any West Bank annexation, efforts to sever it from Gaza or further settlement construction. Such moves, they warned, would spark violence and derail peace efforts.

Signatories pledged firm support for Palestinian self-determination. They demanded an independent Palestinian state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with an end to occupation across all Arab territories. The statement urged an immediate halt to expansionist policies that undermine stability.

Huckabee’s remarks come amid heightened tensions over Israeli settlements and control in the West Bank. The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Regional analysts noted the envoy’s words could complicate ongoing diplomatic pushes for a two-state solution.

Saudi Arabia coordinated the response, reflecting its growing role in Arab diplomacy on the Palestinian issue. Egypt and Jordan, with peace treaties with Israel, joined the chorus despite their ties. The broad coalition signals unified opposition to perceived U.S. backing for territorial grabs.