Huckabee Says Palestinian State Unlikely in Our Lifetime

A Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria is increasingly unlikely to become reality, at least "in our lifetime," according to U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. In a candid interview with Bloomberg, Huckabee underscored a major shift in Washington’s stance, suggesting that Palestinian statehood is no longer an active goal of American policy.

“Unless there are some significant things that happen that change the culture, there’s no room for it,” Huckabee said, pointing to entrenched hostilities and a lack of genuine readiness for peace as major obstacles. When pressed on whether an independent Palestinian state remains a priority for the Trump administration, he responded unequivocally: “I don’t think so.”

Huckabee offered a broader perspective, noting that Palestinian Arabs might find self-governance opportunities elsewhere in the Muslim world. “Israel has a little narrow strip of real estate,” he explained. “Muslim-controlled countries have 644 times the amount of land that Israel does. So when people say that Israel needs to give up something, you kinda scratch your head.”

The ambassador’s remarks come at a time when several European countries most recently Spain, Norway, and Ireland have moved to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. These moves have drawn sharp condemnation from Jerusalem.

In early 2024, Israel’s Knesset overwhelmingly voted 99-11 to back the Cabinet’s rejection of any unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood. The resolution was supported by all coalition members and most Zionist opposition lawmakers, reflecting a near-consensus in Israel’s political landscape.

Israeli officials have warned that further unilateral recognition efforts could provoke countermeasures, including extending Israeli sovereignty over parts of Judea and Samaria. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer reportedly communicated to European leaders that such moves could prompt Israel to annex Area C and legalize existing Jewish outposts.

While U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet announced any decision regarding Israeli sovereignty, Huckabee noted that the administration’s current focus remains on more immediate security concerns. “Right now, our priority is seeing the hostages safely returned, ensuring the Iranians are no longer aspiring to nuclear weaponry designed to murder and kill. Then we’ll take on the other issues,” he said during remarks at the JNS International Policy Summit.

As global diplomatic pressure continues to mount, Israel remains steadfast in defending its vital national interests. The emerging U.S. position underlines a growing recognition that true peace requires not one-sided concessions, but a fundamental change in the culture of incitement and rejectionism that has long plagued the Palestinian leadership.

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