Absurd and provocative': Huckabee faces firestorm for Israel border stance

"United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has triggered an avalanche of criticism from Arab and Muslim countries after suggesting Israel has a right to expand its territory across a large swath of the Middle East. Huckabee delivered the remarks during a sit-down interview with US commentator Tucker Carlson, broadcast on Friday, as he was pressed about the geographical borders of Israel."

"Carlson asked Huckabee, a self-professed Christian Zionist and staunch supporter of Israel, to clarify his stance on the Biblical promise of the land spanning the area between the Euphrates River in Iraq and the Nile River in Egypt to the descendants of Abraham, and if the modern Israeli state had the right to claim that lineage. It would be fine if they took it all, said Huckabee. Such territory would encompass modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and parts of Saudi Arabia."

"The US ambassador later appeared to walk back the claim, saying it was somewhat of a hyperbolic statement. He also said Israel was not looking to expand its territory and has a right to security in the land it currently holds. Huckabee's comments sparked immediate backlash from neighbouring Egypt and Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States, which in separate statements called them extremist, provocative and not in line with Washington's official position."

A remark suggested Israel has a right to expand territory from the Euphrates River in Iraq to the Nile River in Egypt, potentially encompassing Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and parts of Saudi Arabia. The claim was later characterized as somewhat hyperbolic and followed by clarification that Israel is not seeking territorial expansion and retains a right to security in its current territory. The statement provoked immediate condemnation from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States, which described the assertion as extremist, provocative, a violation of international law and a breach of diplomatic norms.

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