Huckabee articulated that "Muslim countries have 644 times the amount of land that are controlled by Israel," during an interview with the BBC, implying that they should be responsible for creating a Palestinian state if there is genuine interest. This contrasts sharply with the long-held U.S. position that advocates for a Palestinian state to be formed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as outlined in the Oslo Accords, which sought a two-state solution.
In different comments to Bloomberg News, Huckabee suggested that recognizing Palestinian territories as a future state would present multiple challenges, indicating uncertainty about maintaining the traditional U.S. stance on the issue. "I don’t think so," he remarked when asked about the Trump administration's ongoing support for the two-state solution, further complicating diplomatic expectations.
A State Department spokeswoman distanced the Biden administration from Huckabee's remarks, stating he speaks for himself, and emphasized that inquiries about official policy should be directed to the White House. While Huckabee's previous remarks as a private citizen on Palestinian identity have attracted criticism, he pledged to uphold the president's policies in his current role as ambassador.
As global discussions on Palestinian statehood intensify, with over 140 countries backing the cause, key international figures like France's President Macron and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prepare to explore the feasibility of establishing a Palestinian state in an upcoming U.N. conference in New York. As dynamics continue to evolve, the future of U.S. policy on this crucial issue remains to be seen.
In different comments to Bloomberg News, Huckabee suggested that recognizing Palestinian territories as a future state would present multiple challenges, indicating uncertainty about maintaining the traditional U.S. stance on the issue. "I don’t think so," he remarked when asked about the Trump administration's ongoing support for the two-state solution, further complicating diplomatic expectations.
A State Department spokeswoman distanced the Biden administration from Huckabee's remarks, stating he speaks for himself, and emphasized that inquiries about official policy should be directed to the White House. While Huckabee's previous remarks as a private citizen on Palestinian identity have attracted criticism, he pledged to uphold the president's policies in his current role as ambassador.
As global discussions on Palestinian statehood intensify, with over 140 countries backing the cause, key international figures like France's President Macron and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman prepare to explore the feasibility of establishing a Palestinian state in an upcoming U.N. conference in New York. As dynamics continue to evolve, the future of U.S. policy on this crucial issue remains to be seen.
