The United States may no longer be pursuing the goal of an independent Palestinian state, according to recent remarks by U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. In an interview with Bloomberg News published on Tuesday, Huckabee indicated a significant shift in U.S. policy regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
When asked whether a Palestinian state remains a U.S. policy objective, Huckabee responded, “I don’t think so.” He suggested that any future Palestinian entity might need to be established outside the West Bank, facilitated by a Muslim country rather than requiring Israel to “cede territory.”
“Allowing a Palestinian state to be established in the West Bank would require significant changes, which may not occur in our lifetime,” Huckabee stated. “Unless there are some significant things that happen that change the culture, there’s no room for it.”
These comments have raised concerns among international observers who view the two-state solution as the only viable path to lasting peace in the Middle East. Over two-thirds of United Nations member states currently recognize the State of Palestine, and there is broad international consensus supporting the creation of an independent Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Responding to Huckabee’s remarks, State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce clarified that the ambassador “speaks for himself,” emphasizing that U.S. policy in the Middle East is determined by the president.
Huckabee’s statements come just one week after UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged world leaders to keep the two-state solution “alive” during a meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York. “And for those that doubt about the two-state solution, I ask: What is the alternative? Is it a one-state solution in which either the Palestinians are expelled or forced to live in their land without rights?” Guterres asked.
Later this month, diplomats from France and Saudi Arabia are set to host a conference at the UN aimed at laying out a roadmap for an eventual Palestinian state. The international community continues to advocate for renewed efforts toward a peaceful resolution that ensures the rights and aspirations of both Palestinians and Israelis.
