BERLIN

Germany on Monday dismissed statements by the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who argued that the Jewish state had a biblical right to the land stretching from the Nile to the Euphrates rivers.

Germany has “taken note of the reactions of numerous states in the region. And I would like to clarify once again the position of the German government. The West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem are the starting point for the future Palestinian state, and that is the basis from which we proceed,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kathrin Deschauer said during a press briefing in Berlin.

Arab countries on Saturday strongly condemned Huckabee’s remarks as “absurd and provocative,” unacceptable, and contrary to international law. His comments effectively endorsed Israeli control over the entire Middle East, including the occupied West Bank.

“That is our position, and it is also the position that offers the best opportunity for peaceful coexistence with a view to a two-state solution,” Deschauer added.

Berlin reiterated its long-standing opposition to Israeli settlement expansion, stating that such actions entrench the occupation rather than contribute to peace.

The government has repeatedly said settlement expansion jeopardizes the prospects of a negotiated two-state solution and contradicts international legal obligations, including rulings by the International Court of Justice.