Indonesia Slams US Ambassador’s Statement Claiming Israel’s Right to Most of Middle East Territory

Jakarta, MINA – The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a strong condemnation against the controversial statement made by United States Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who claimed that Israel has the right to control most of the Middle East territory. The firm stance was delivered in a joint statement co-signed by Indonesia and numerous Middle Eastern countries and international organizations.

The joint statement was signed by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Indonesia, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Republic of Türkiye, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar, the State of Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Republic of Lebanon, the Syrian Arab Republic, and the State of Palestine. The secretariats of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Arab League (LAS), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also joined the condemnation.

Through its official X account on Sunday, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed deep concern over the statement, which it deemed unacceptable.

“Expressing strong condemnation and deep concern regarding the statement made by the United States Ambassador to Israel, which indicated that it is acceptable for Israel to control territories belonging to Arab countries, including the occupied West Bank,” the Ministry wrote.

Indonesia emphasized that the US Ambassador’s statement contradicts international law and the Charter of the United Nations. The Indonesian government, together with Arab nations, affirmed that Israel has no sovereignty whatsoever over occupied Palestinian territories or other Arab lands.

The joint statement also firmly rejected any attempts to annex the West Bank or separate it from the Gaza Strip. The signatories voiced strong opposition to the expansion of illegal settlement activities in occupied Palestinian territory.

“The Ministries reaffirm that Israel has absolutely no sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territory or other occupied Arab territories. They reiterate their firm rejection of any attempts to annex the West Bank or separate it from the Gaza Strip, their strong opposition to the expansion of settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, and their categorical rejection of any threats to the sovereignty of Arab countries,” the statement read.

Notably, in the joint statement, Indonesia and Middle Eastern countries also pointed out that Ambassador Huckabee’s remarks do not align with the vision of US President Donald Trump in promoting peace in Palestine.

They emphasized that any efforts to resolve the conflict in Gaza must be based on the assurance of an independent Palestinian state and the principles of tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the Middle East region.

“They underscore that the plan is based on promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and that statements seeking to legitimize control over others’ land undermine these goals, fuel tensions, and constitute incitement rather than advancing peace,” the Indonesian Ministry stated.

According to reports from AP News, Mike Huckabee’s controversial remarks were made during an interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson that aired on Friday local time. In the interview, Carlson raised a narrative based on religious text interpretation, suggesting that Abraham’s descendants would receive land encompassing nearly the entire Middle East.

When asked whether Israel has the right to that land, Huckabee responded, “It doesn’t matter if they take all of it.” However, he added that Israel is not currently seeking to expand its territory and only emphasized Israel’s right to security in the areas it legitimately controls.

The statement has drawn widespread condemnation from Arab and Muslim countries, as it is seen as legitimizing Israeli occupation and potentially threatening security stability in the Middle East region, particularly in the Gaza Strip.[]

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)