US Ambassador Calls Israeli Settler Violence 'Criminal and Terrorist'

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank as "criminal and terrorist" on Saturday, emphasizing the Palestinians' right to live in "security and safety." Huckabee made these remarks during a press conference in the town of Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah, after hearing testimonies from Palestinian-Americans about daily challenges to their lives, homes, and property.

"When you try to create an environment where people feel uncomfortable in their homes, their children can't play in their own yards, and they feel unsafe or insecure because of the behavior, actions, and intimidation of others, that is terrorism by any definition, whether in law or otherwise," Huckabee stated. He added that settler violence is "criminal and terrorist," though he claimed perpetrators are a "small number" compared to the total population in these areas. The U.S. message, he affirmed, is that people in these communities have a right to security and safety, and the Israeli government is responsible for ensuring it.

Huckabee, known for his support of settlements, visited Turmus Ayya, a town east of Ramallah where most residents are American citizens and frequently face settler attacks. During his visit, residents presented him with accounts of settler assaults. Samir Juma'a Hazma, who hosted the ambassador, noted that Huckabee requested the meeting following resident complaints about settler violence. Hazma shared that his home had previously been attacked by settlers, with windows broken and attempts made to burn the gate and house.

Nawaf Zaghloul, the mayor of Turmus Ayya, stated that most residents are American citizens "and they want to deliver their message today." He reported daily attacks by settlers, including the burning of homes and blocking access to 18,000 dunams of their land, with settlements like Shilo being sources of repeated assaults.

On Friday, Huckabee reiterated his characterization of settlers attacking Palestinians as "terrorists" who "damage Israel's image." Huckabee has previously expressed Zionist views and claimed Israel has a "right to control large parts" of the Middle East. He has also visited West Bank settlements and, in a recent interview, asserted that settler presence in the West Bank is "legal."

Since the start of the war in Gaza on October 8, 2023, the West Bank has seen daily incursions and attacks by settlers and the Israeli military. According to Palestinian sources, settlers have carried out approximately 12,500 attacks out of over 56,000 total attacks by the military and settlers in the West Bank during this period. In June, UN special rapporteurs warned that escalating settler terrorism, with Israeli state support, poses an existential threat to Palestinian communities. Around 750,000 settlers reside in 194 settlements and 400 outposts in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, while their attacks continue with the aim of forcibly displacing Palestinians.