US Ambassador Claims Israel Has Right to Much of Middle East

Arab and Muslim nations strongly condemned the remarks by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 7:20pm

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The Arab and Muslim nations strongly condemned the remarks made by the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who claimed that Israel has the right to a large part of the Middle East. Huckabee's comments have sparked outrage and concern in the region.

Why it matters

The ambassador's remarks are seen as a significant shift in US policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, potentially undermining decades of efforts to find a peaceful resolution. This could further inflame tensions in the region and complicate diplomatic efforts.

The details

In his comments, Huckabee stated that Israel has a historical and biblical right to control a large portion of the Middle East, including areas currently under Palestinian control. This is a departure from the US's traditional position of supporting a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

  • The comments were made on Saturday, February 21, 2026.

The players

Mike Huckabee

The US Ambassador to Israel who made the controversial remarks about Israel's right to control much of the Middle East.

Arab and Muslim nations

The nations in the Middle East that strongly condemned Huckabee's remarks, seeing them as a significant shift in US policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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The takeaway

The ambassador's comments have the potential to further inflame tensions in the region and complicate diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This shift in US policy could undermine decades of work towards a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.