Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, stated that the US is no longer pursuing an independent Palestinian state, suggesting any future Palestinian entity could be carved from a "Muslim country" rather than Israeli territory. This marks a significant shift in US Middle East diplomacy, aligning with analysts' views of the Trump administration's commitment to "Palestinian erasure" and creating diplomatic complications for US allies.
US ambassador to Israel says US no longer pursuing goal of independent Palestinian state
Donald TrumpMike HuckabeeIsraelGazaWest BankPalestinian territoriesMiddle East and north AfricaWorldUnited States
AI Summary
TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, stated that the US is no longer pursuing an independent Palestinian state, suggesting any future Palestinian entity could be carved from a "Muslim country" rather than Israeli territory. This marks a significant shift in US Middle East diplomacy, aligning with analysts' views of the Trump administration's commitment to "Palestinian erasure" and creating diplomatic complications for US allies.
Trending- 1 2008: Mike Huckabee's presidential campaign, states "There is no such thing as a Palestinian."
- 2 2017: Mike Huckabee visits occupied West Bank, rejects concept of Israeli occupation.
- 3 Trump's first term: Tepid approach to two-state solution.
- 4 Last four-plus months (prior to June 10, 2025): Administration's open support for expelling Gaza population, legitimization of Israeli settlement/annexation policies.
- 5 Recent (prior to June 10, 2025): Mike Huckabee's interview with Bloomberg News.
- 6 Ongoing: War in Gaza.
- Explicit abandonment of the two-state solution as US policy
- Potential for increased diplomatic complications for US allies (European and Arab states)
- Further entrenchment of Israeli occupation in the West Bank
- Continued displacement and deaths of Palestinians in Gaza
- Shift in the language used to describe the region
What: Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, stated that the US is no longer pursuing the goal of an independent Palestinian state. He suggested that any future Palestinian entity could be carved out of "a Muslim country" instead of requiring Israel to cede territory, and used Israeli government terminology like "Judea and Samaria" for the West Bank. This marks a significant and explicit abandonment of a long-standing cornerstone of US Middle East diplomacy.
When: Article published June 10, 2025; interview with Bloomberg News (recent); last four-plus months (context for administration's actions); 2008 (Huckabee's presidential campaign); 2017 (Huckabee's visit to West Bank).
Where: Israel, Palestinian territories (Gaza, West Bank), Middle East, Washington D.C. (Arab Center Washington DC).
Why: Huckabee's position is rooted in his evangelical Christian beliefs and longstanding support for Israeli settlement expansion. Analysts suggest this reflects the Trump administration's broader commitment to "Palestinian erasure" and a departure from previous US policy.
How: Mike Huckabee made the statements during an interview with Bloomberg News. Analysts like Khaled Elgindy and Yousef Munayyer provided commentary on the implications of his statements.