• US Ambassador Mike Huckabee claims Muslim nations should give land for a Palestinian state.
• He emphasizes that Muslim countries have "644 times" more land than Israel.
• Huckabee's remarks indicate a shift away from the traditional US support for a two-state solution.
• The US State Department clarified that Huckabee speaks for himself regarding US policy.
• Criticism follows Huckabee’s comments from various diplomatic factions.

In a recent series of interviews, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee suggested that the establishment of a Palestinian state should come at the expense of neighboring Muslim countries, which he claims possess significantly more land than Israel. Huckabee stated, "Muslim countries have 644 times the amount of land that are controlled by Israel," positing that these countries could be more willing to "host" a Palestinian state if they truly support such an initiative, according to Middle East Eye and BBC.

Huckabee's remarks appear to signal a deviation from the longstanding U.S. policy advocating for a two-state solution, which traditionally aimed to establish a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza alongside Israel. In an interview with Bloomberg, Huckabee asserted that the U.S. is no longer pursuing an independent Palestinian state as an objective, with a State Department spokesperson clarifying that Huckabee's views do not represent those of the administration, according to India Times and New York Times.

Huckabee's comments have attracted significant attention and criticism, particularly regarding his views on the necessity for cultural change before a Palestinian state could be viable. He highlighted issues related to violence against Jews, stating, "Right now the culture is that it's OK to target Jews and kill them and you're rewarded for it. That has to change," as reported by both BBC and India Times.

In addition to discussing the Palestinian state dilemma, Huckabee expressed disapproval of sanctions placed on two far-right Israeli ministers by allies such as the UK and Australia, labeling the actions "a shocking decision." He argued that these ministers had not conducted any criminal activity, which aligns with his often contentious stance on Israeli policies and governance, as noted in reports from Middle East Eye and New York Times.