Washington’s top diplomat to Israel, Ambassador Mike Huckabee, used strong language Saturday as he toured the West Bank village of Turmus Ayya. He described violent Israeli settlers who torch homes, graffiti walls and burn a mosque as “terrorists,” a term usually reserved for Palestinian militants.
Ambassador’s remarks
Huckabee told a small group of Palestinian‑American residents that the settlers’ actions go beyond ordinary criminal conduct. “If there are squatters that come in and put up their own flags and take possession of something that does not belong to them, if they burn a car, if they torch a mosque, if they go into someone’s home and vandalize it, paint graffiti on the walls, that’s a criminal act. But it extends beyond a criminal act. It’s an act of terror,” he said.
The ambassador’s comments echo a similar statement he made last month after weeks of unrest in the West Bank town of Qusra, where settlers surrounded homes, including one owned by a Palestinian‑American family. Days later, residents of the nearby village of Bazariya reported that a mosque was set ablaze and a graffiti message reading “Huckabee regards from the terrorists” was left in Hebrew on a wall.
Local impact and U.S. response
During his visit, Huckabee emphasized that the American citizens living in Turmus Ayya and surrounding communities are not enjoying the peaceful life they deserve. He warned that the violence creates “extraordinary challenges that are unfair and illegal.” While the U.S. Embassy cannot conduct criminal investigations, Huckabee said it can alert the Israeli government that “specific crimes and acts of terror cannot continue without that country doing the investigation and adjudication that every person has a right to expect.”
Israeli government’s stance
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose administration is the most ultranationalist and religious in Israel’s history, condemned the actions of a “handful of rioters” a week earlier, and Israel’s foreign ministry called the settlers’ behavior “a disgrace.” The defense minister has recently announced plans to transfer law‑enforcement authority over settlers fully to the Israeli police, a step aimed at curbing settler‑related violence.
Background on settlement controversy
Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem in the 1967 war. The United Nations and most of the international community consider the territories occupied and the settlements illegal under international law. Since 1967, Israel has built nearly 150 settlements that house over 500,000 Jewish settlers, many of which resemble suburban neighborhoods.
Human‑rights groups have long accused the Israeli military of turning a blind eye to settler violence, arguing that the military’s presence does not translate into protection for Palestinian residents. The recent surge in attacks follows the Hamas‑led assault on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which sparked a broader conflict and heightened tensions across the West Bank.
What’s next?
Huckabee’s strong condemnation signals continued U.S. pressure on Israel to address settler‑related terrorism and protect the rights of American citizens abroad. The ambassador’s visit underscores Washington’s willingness to call out extremist behavior, even when it involves Israeli citizens, in hopes of fostering a more stable and lawful environment for all residents of the West Bank.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
