Palestinian Fights Deportation From US Citing Settler Violence Risk

A Palestinian man facing deportation from the United States is using a new argument in his legal battle to remain in the country: the risk of settler violence in the West Bank. Tarek Zakarna, 44, who has lived in the Portland, Oregon area for over a decade, is scheduled for deportation on Wednesday. He has been held in an ICE detention facility since May 2024, after numerous legal attempts to prevent his removal were rejected.

His supporters are now highlighting the rise in settler violence, a topic that has gained attention in the U.S. U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Harkavy, who is a strong supporter of settlements, recently described some perpetrators as "Israeli terrorists." Israel's Ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, made similar remarks.

According to UN data, over 1,430 incidents of settler violence in the West Bank were documented from the beginning of 2026, a figure described as "unprecedented." The UN also reported that thousands of Palestinians have been displaced this year due to a combination of settler violence, demolitions, and evictions.

The issue has reached the highest levels of the U.S. administration following recent events in the Palestinian town of Qusra, where Israeli activists established outposts near Palestinian homes, including one owned by a Palestinian-American. This criticism comes amid the Trump administration's policy changes. On his first day of his second term, the President rescinded the Biden administration's order that allowed sanctions against Israelis and organizations linked to violence and destabilization in the West Bank. Days later, the Treasury Department removed all individuals previously sanctioned under that order.

Portland for Palestine and other pro-Palestinian activists advocating for Zakarna's stay are pressuring congressional members in the region to intervene before Wednesday. They are organizing fundraising events, selling "Palestinian baked goods," and planning a large demonstration in downtown Portland on Saturday to demand a last-minute halt to the deportation.