Speaking to Al Arabiya, Huckabee was blunt. “One of the reasons we’re seeing the more aggressive decision to move into some of these areas is because it’s in reaction to what the Europeans have done—in concert with the Palestinian Authority—pushing for a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.

This move that has had a totally disastrous effect, not only on the tension in Judea and Samaria, but it’s had a detrimental effect on resolving things in Gaza,” he said.