US Would Respect Israeli Sovereignty in West Bank, Huckabee Hints

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee suggested on Tuesday that Washington would respect Israel’s decision if it applies sovereignty to parts of Judea and Samaria, rejecting the idea that the United States would dictate terms to Jerusalem.

Speaking at The Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference in Jerusalem, Huckabee said: “We respect Israel as a sovereign nation. We are not going to tell Israel what it can and cannot do any more than we would expect Israel to tell us what we can and cannot do.”

The ambassador stressed that differences of opinion between the two countries do not undermine the partnership. “Sometimes they may disagree with the United States. That is their right. They are a sovereign nation, and they have every basis to say we disagree. We respect our partner.”

Huckabee described the US–Israel bond as unparalleled. “We have friends as the United States, and we do have allies, but I would say we only have one real partner,” he said, pointing to unmatched levels of intelligence sharing, military cooperation, and trust.

On the international stage, Huckabee rejected efforts to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations. “We not only disagree, we strongly urge nations to not go there. For one, it violates Oslo. It is a stunt at the United Nations. It is not going anywhere. It is not going to create a Palestinian state.”

He also dismissed the modern term “West Bank” as inaccurate. “West Bank is a very modern, nebulous term,” he said. “It is more accurate to call it Judea and Samaria, the term that goes back two or three thousand years, and 80 percent of the Bible is about Judea and Samaria.”

Huckabee linked his comments to America’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s eternal capital, referencing the City of David, which the US Embassy designated as part of America’s Judeo-Christian heritage. “We dedicated [the City of David] as an American heritage site, not just as an Israeli site,” he said, adding that the United States views Jerusalem as the “undisputed and undivided capital of the Jewish state.”

His remarks reaffirm continuity with the Trump administration, which formally recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and moved the US Embassy there.

Huckabee’s statements highlight a clear message: Israel’s sovereignty and historic rights will be respected, while international attempts to bypass negotiations and delegitimize Israel will not. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for more updates on Israel’s global partnerships.