US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. AFP
Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Israel who has previously denied the existence of Palestinians, made the remarks ahead of a conference on Palestinian statehood scheduled for 17-20 June, co-led by France and Saudi Arabia, at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York.
His comments come as a growing number of countries formally recognize a Palestinian state amid Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed more than 54,000 people and pushed over 2 million to the brink of starvation.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that recognizing a Palestinian state was not only a "moral duty" but also a "political necessity."
France has indicated it could formally recognize Palestinian statehood "within months," potentially at the upcoming UN summit.
Nearly 150 countries have already done so, and in 2024, Spain, Ireland, and Norway joined that list.
However, full UN membership requires approval from the Security Council, where the United States has repeatedly used its veto power to block Palestinian statehood.
Huckabee responded on Sunday, echoing recent statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who condemned Saudi Arabia for reiterating its stance that there would be no normalization with Israel without a Palestinian state.
"They are welcome to do that," Huckabee said of France, "but they are not welcome to impose that kind of pressure on a sovereign nation," he added, without acknowledging Israel’s occupation of Jerusalem, the West Bank, southern Lebanon, and Syria’s Golan Heights — all breaches of international law and sovereignty.
"I hope they will reconsider, but the US will not participate. It simply will not be a part of such a ruse," he said.
The UN conference in New York later this month is expected to focus on advancing diplomatic recognition for a Palestinian state despite Israeli objections.
The foreign ministers of five Arab nations Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey—along with the secretary general of the Arab League— condemned on Saturday Israel's decision to block their planned visit to the occupied West Bank, where they were due to meet Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Sunday.
An unnamed Israeli official quoted in local media accused Abbas of planning a "provocative meeting" to promote Palestinian statehood, adding that Israel "will not cooperate with such moves aimed at harming it and its security".
Had the visit gone ahead, it would have marked the first time a Saudi foreign minister travelled to the West Bank since Israel occupied the territory in 1967.
Axios reported the visit was intended to increase international pressure for recognition of a Palestinian state as Israel continues to expand settlements and entrench its military occupation.
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