In a striking departure from established US foreign policy, American Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee declared during a Friday interview with commentator Tucker Carlson that Area C of the occupied West Bank constitutes sovereign Israeli territory. The ambassador further escalated controversy by expressing openness to Israeli expansion across multiple Middle Eastern nations, including Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Egypt.
These remarks triggered immediate condemnation from Arab and Muslim allies, who characterized Huckabee’s statements as “dangerous and inflammatory” rhetoric that undermines regional stability. The ambassador’s position directly contradicts longstanding US policy, which refuses recognition of Israeli sovereignty over any portion of the occupied West Bank.
The West Bank’s division into Areas A, B, and C originated from the 1990s Oslo Peace Accords, which established the Palestinian Authority. While Areas A and B were designated for varying degrees of Palestinian control, Area C—representing approximately 60% of the West Bank—was intended to remain under Israeli military jurisdiction pending final status negotiations.
Over the past two decades, Israeli settlement expansion within Area C has dramatically accelerated, with nearly 400,000 settlers now residing in the territory. Palestinian communities face systematic restrictions, including home demolitions, resource confiscation, and limited water access. UN data indicates over 70% of Area C Palestinian communities lack connection to water networks, relying on costly tankered deliveries.
Khaled Elgindy of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft noted that Huckabee’s comments merely vocalize existing realities, stating that Israel has effectively achieved de facto annexation without formal declaration. This assessment gained further credibility when Israel’s cabinet recently assumed control over Area C’s land registry, invalidating Palestinian Authority documentation efforts.
Simultaneously, Israel has intensified administrative control over Palestinian-governed Areas A and B, approving measures that undermine Palestinian Authority jurisdiction. Recent settlement expansions near Jerusalem further demonstrate Israel’s consolidation of control across the occupied territories, despite international condemnation of these actions as violations of international law.