US Ambassador Calls West Bank Settler Violence 'Criminal and Terrorist'

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

Ambassador Lew stated that attempts to create an environment where Palestinians feel unsafe in their homes or fear for their children are considered terrorism, both legally and otherwise. He stressed that while settler violence is criminal and terrorist, the perpetrators represent a "limited number" compared to the total population in these areas. The U.S. message to Israel, he affirmed, is that all residents, Palestinian and Israeli, have the right to live in peace, and the Israeli government is responsible for ensuring this.

Lew's visit to Turmus Ayya, a town east of Ramallah with a significant Palestinian-American population, occurred amidst frequent settler attacks on the town and its surroundings. Palestinians meeting with the ambassador presented direct accounts of attacks on their property, homes, and land, illustrating the daily impact of violence in the West Bank.

Earlier on Friday, Lew had reiterated his description of settlers perpetrating attacks against Palestinians as "terrorists," suggesting these actions harm Israel's image. This stance reflects a more critical tone towards settler violence, though Lew is also known for his support of Israeli settlements and has previously visited them, expressing a legal basis for their existence.

These statements come amid a continuous escalation in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war in October 2023, with daily Israeli incursions and settler attacks. Palestinian data from the Wall and Settlements Resistance Commission indicates over 56,000 attacks in the West Bank over the past thousand days, with settlers responsible for approximately 12,500. In June, 14 UN special rapporteurs warned of escalating "settler terrorism," noting that these attacks, with alleged official Israeli support and complicity, pose an existential threat to Palestinian communities. There are an estimated 750,000 settlers in 194 settlements and 400 outposts in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with accusations that these attacks aim to forcibly displace Palestinians.