Fourteen Middle Eastern and Asian governments joined three regional organizations in a rare unified response Sunday, condemning controversial statements by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee regarding territorial claims in the region. The coordinated rebuke comes amid heightened tensions over Palestinian statehood aspirations.
In a joint statement released on February 22, 2026, foreign ministries from nations including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, and Qatar denounced Huckabee's recent assertion that Israel has a "biblical right" to control most of the Middle East. The ambassador's comments, made during a Friday podcast interview, were labeled "dangerous" and "inflammatory" by signatories representing 60% of the Arab world's population.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Gulf Cooperation Council joined Arab League members in warning that such rhetoric "undermines decades of peace efforts" and violates UN Charter principles. Officials emphasized that no country holds sovereignty over occupied Palestinian territories, reaffirming their stance through carefully coordinated diplomatic channels.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei characterized the remarks as evidence of "American complicity in colonial genocide," while Jordanian officials framed them as direct assaults on regional sovereignty. Saudi Arabia's unusually strong response described the comments as "reckless" and "irresponsible," reflecting growing concern among US allies.
Analysts note the swift multilateral response highlights shifting geopolitical dynamics, with traditional rivals finding common ground in opposing perceived threats to territorial integrity. The controversy emerges as Washington faces renewed pressure to clarify its position on West Bank settlements ahead of November's US elections.
