Riyadh Rejects ‘Irresponsible’ Comments by US Envoy

Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned statements attributed to Mike Huckabee, the United States Ambassador to Israel, regarding Israel’s potential control over parts of the Middle East.

In a statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Kingdom denounced the remarks in the strongest terms and expressed complete rejection of what it described as “irresponsible” comments suggesting that Israel’s control of the entire Middle East could be considered acceptable.

Arab countries, including Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, also strongly condemned comments attributed to Huckabee suggesting that Israel had a biblical right to territory stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates.

In separate statements, the three countries described the remarks as “absurd” and “provocative,” stressing that they contradict international law. They warned that such statements violate state sovereignty and undermine regional stability.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry stressed that the comments constitute a violation of international law, the United Nations Charter, and established diplomatic norms. It described the remarks as a dangerous precedent, particularly given that they were made by a US official, and said they undermine the distinguished relations between countries of the region and the United States.

In its statement, the Ministry warned that such “extremist rhetoric” could lead to serious consequences and threaten regional and global security. It said the remarks risk provoking the peoples and states of the region, while disregarding the foundations of the international system agreed upon by nations to prevent devastating wars that claimed millions of lives in the past.

The Kingdom further emphasized the importance of respecting internationally recognized borders and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. It called on the US State Department to clarify its position regarding what it described as proposals rejected by peace-loving nations.

Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its long-standing position rejecting any actions that infringe upon the sovereignty, borders, or territorial integrity of states. The statement reiterated that the only path to achieving a just and comprehensive peace lies in ending the occupation based on the two-state solution, including the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.