A new controversy has emerged in the Middle East over a statement regarding Israel's borders and historical claims by the US Ambassador. Mike Huckabee, the US Ambassador to Israel, mentioned in a TV interview about Israel's potential to 'take over everything' in the Middle East if it so wishes. This comment prompted a joint condemnation from 14 Arab and Islamic countries.
During the interview, commentator Tucker Carlson asked the Ambassador whether modern Israel could assert claims over territory stretching from Iraq's Euphrates River to Egypt's Nile River. Huckabee responded by saying that it would be fine if Israel 'took it all,' implying it was acceptable for Israel to annex the entire region.
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Source: aajtak
A joint statement issued from Doha on Saturday night by the foreign ministries of Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine termed these remarks as 'dangerous and provocative.' The secretariats of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Arab League, and Organization of Islamic Cooperation also raised objections.
No Israeli Sovereignty Over Occupied Palestinian Territories
The joint statement asserted that such comments signal a perceived right for Israel to annex Arab lands, including the occupied West Bank. The signatory countries clearly stated, 'Israel has no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories or any other Arab land.'
The statement further highlighted that such remarks are a 'clear violation' of international law and the UN Charter principles, posing a severe threat to regional security and stability. The vast region referenced in the interview includes parts of present-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.
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US Ambassador's Statement and Israel's 'Greater Israel' Vision
Amidst the escalating controversy, US Ambassador Huckabee later described his comment as 'somewhat exaggerated,' clarifying that Israel is not expanding its current borders but has the right to security within its existing territories. Nonetheless, the remarks faced widespread criticism, with many on social media linking them to Israel's Greater Israel Plan.
Despite this, Arab and Islamic nations have called for immediate cessation of such 'provocative statements,' emphasizing that narratives justifying control over others' lands do not promote peace but rather fuel tension and violence.
