US Ambassador Meets Palestinians Amid Settler Violence Surge

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya in the West Bank on Saturday, meeting with residents including families of U.S. citizens killed by Israeli settlers. Turmus Ayya has become a frequent target of settler attacks, according to local officials.

Nawaf Zaghloul, the mayor of Turmus Ayya, stated before the meeting that residents would convey the suffering they experience due to ongoing settler violence. He noted that approximately 80% of the town's 3,000 residents hold American citizenship and would seek the ambassador's help in ensuring their safety.

Huckabee, a Baptist minister and long-time supporter of Israeli settlements, called for the prosecution of settlers committing violent acts. However, he characterized these actions as the work of a minority within the broader settler population of about 750,000 people.

Samir Hazma, a Turmus Ayya resident, expressed hope that the ambassador would take action against "outlaw settlers" who he claimed operate with the army's protection. Huckabee had previously visited the Christian village of Taybeh in June 2025 after a church there was vandalized, condemning the act as terrorism. He has also visited the nearby settlement of Shilo at least twice since 2025.