US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has firmly stated that establishing a Palestinian state is not a priority for the Trump administration, suggesting that Israel’s Arab neighbors could instead provide territory for such a state. Speaking to Bloomberg on Tuesday, Huckabee said “Unless there are some significant things that happen that change the culture, there’s no room for it,” referring to a Palestinian state in the West Bank.
The ambassador argued that Israel’s “Muslim neighbours” could give up their land to create a Palestinian state, effectively ruling out the establishment of such a state in the occupied West Bank under current circumstances. Huckabee went further, suggesting that no Palestinian state is likely “in our lifetime”, marking a significant departure from decades of US policy supporting a two-state solution.
His comments came in an interview with Al Arabiya English, where he stressed that such steps have worsened tensions rather than advancing peace.
“One of the reasons we’re seeing the more aggressive decision to move into some of these areas is because it’s in reaction to what the Europeans have done — in concert with the Palestinian Authority — pushing for a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state,” Huckabee said.
He added that these actions have had “a totally disastrous effect” on stability in Judea and Samaria and on efforts to resolve the situation in Gaza.
“I don’t know what the Europeans thought they were going to accomplish, but by their actions, they’re accomplishing something that I don’t think they wanted to do, and that is to essentially give a green light or encourage the Israelis to go ahead and take more pieces of Judea and Samaria, either by declaring sovereignty or annexation,” he said.
“Pushing for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state without the cooperation and participation of Israel is a violation of Oslo,” Huckabee said. “If there’s going to be this massive violation of the Oslo agreement, then I think people have to prepare for the consequences of that on both sides of the conflict.”
The ambassador’s comments come as the Israeli government has accelerated settlement activities and taken concrete steps toward annexation. In July 2025, the Israeli Knesset voted 71-13 in favor of a symbolic motion supporting West Bank annexation, though the measure was non-binding. More recently, Israel announced plans to build thousands of new housing units in the occupied West Bank, with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stating this would “permanently bury the idea of a Palestinian state”.
Huckabee has also suggested that European recognition of Palestinian statehood effectively gave Israel a “green light” to pursue annexation. “With Palestine recognition, Europeans gave Israel green light to take more pieces of West Bank,” he stated, arguing that international moves to recognize Palestine paradoxically justify Israeli territorial expansion.
Huckabee has long been a vocal supporter of Israeli settlement expansion in what he refers to as Judea and Samaria, the biblical names for the West Bank. The former Arkansas governor has previously argued that “there’s really no such thing as a Palestinian” and has stated there is “no such place as the West Bank”. He has consistently rejected the concept of a Palestinian state in territory previously seized by Israel and has repeatedly signaled his staunch support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Throughout his career, Huckabee has made numerous visits to Israeli settlements, expressing support for their expansion and legitimacy. His appointment as ambassador was seen as a clear signal of the Trump administration’s pro-settlement stance.
The Trump administration’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been markedly different from previous US administrations. Trump’s appointment of Huckabee demonstrates a “very hawkish, very pro-right-wing Israel” approach, according to analysts. Huckabee has also rejected reports suggesting that Trump might recognize a Palestinian state, emphasizing the administration’s departure from traditional US policy.
During Trump’s first term, his administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, moved the US embassy there, and endorsed Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. The administration also unveiled the “Deal of the Century” peace plan, which heavily favored Israeli positions and was rejected by Palestinian leadership.
Both U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former President Donald Trump criticized the wave of Western recognitions, judging that they undermine Israel and inadvertently strengthen Hamas. Trump’s longstanding position is that such recognition should wait until genuine peace and security arrangements are in place—not awarded amid continued terror and conflict.
Nearly 150 of 193 U.N. member states recognize Palestinian statehood, including most countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. But currently, only a fraction of Western countries do—mostly former members of the Soviet Union—although momentum appears to be growing.
By international law, a sovereign state should have a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government, and the ability to conduct international relations. Gaza does not fulfill any of these basic requirements and it is questionable whether the Palestinian Authority can.
The Government of Israel has significantly ramped up settlement activity in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, transferring its own population into the territory and unlawfully demolishing Palestinian homes, while settler violence has increased in a climate of continuing impunity.
Most notably, Israel has recently approved the controversial E1 settlement project, a long-stalled plan that would effectively divide the West Bank in half. The E1 area spans approximately 12 square kilometers between East Jerusalem and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement, and comprises roughly 3,500 planned housing units. If fully implemented, the project would connect Ma’ale Adumim directly to Jerusalem, creating a “Greater Jewish Jerusalem” while completely severing the northern West Bank from its southern portion. This would prevent Palestinians from developing a contiguous urban center connecting East Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and Ramallah – a foundation many view as essential for any future Palestinian state.
The Knesset’s motion supporting West Bank annexation signals Israel’s intention of formalizing what it has already been doing at an accelerated pace since October 7 — establishing total Israeli control over Palestinian land. Israeli law has been applied to Israeli settlements throughout the West Bank, leading to a system of “enclave law” and claims of “creeping annexation”.
The push for Palestinian recognition has gained momentum globally, particularly following Israel’s military operations in Gaza. The State of Palestine is recognised by 146 countries around the world, with Norway, Ireland and Spain joining the list on May 22, 2024. In the spring of 2024, more European and Caribbean nations recognized a Palestinian state, including Barbados, Ireland, Jamaica, Norway and Spain, while Slovenia also joined this group.
Looking ahead, France, Malta, and Australia have announced plans to recognize Palestine as a state in September 2025 at the 2025 United Nations General Assembly, with Canada and the United Kingdom stating they will as well subject to certain conditions. In 2014, Sweden became the first country in Western Europe to recognise Palestine, setting a precedent that others have followed.
The moves have drawn international condemnation. Multiple Arab and Muslim nations, along with international organizations, have strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s approval of the declaration calling for the imposition of “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank, considering it “a blatant and unacceptable violation of international law”.
As the Trump administration begins its second term, Huckabee’s statements suggest a continuation and intensification of policies that effectively abandon the two-state solution that has been the cornerstone of international peace efforts for decades. The alignment between the US ambassador’s positions and Israeli government actions indicates a coordinated approach that could fundamentally alter the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The international community continues to view any annexation of the West Bank as a violation of international law, setting up potential conflicts between the Trump administration’s positions and those of key allies and international institutions.
