Former US Ambassador David Friedman Defends Israeli Farmer Accused of Terrorism

Former US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman met with Amichai Meltzer on Thursday, a week after Meltzer was filmed by current US Ambassador Mike Hammer near the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya. Friedman publicly defended Meltzer, stating that he was merely conducting a security patrol and not bothering anyone.

Friedman described Meltzer as a "vegan, pacifist, and farmer" who wishes to cultivate land and does not harbor hatred towards Palestinians, despite a Palestinian having murdered his brother just six weeks prior. Friedman asserted that an attempt was made to portray Meltzer as a terrorist due to his security vehicle activity in the area.

The incident occurred during Ambassador Hammer's visit to Turmus Ayya amid rising tensions. Hammer met with American citizens in the village and shared footage of Meltzer driving a security vehicle nearby. Hammer commented on "disturbing stories of criminal and terrorist acts by a group of infiltrators."

Meltzer later revealed he was the person in the video and claimed the portrayal was inaccurate. He explained he was investigating a report of dozens of vehicles gathering at the village edge, an area he claims has seen recent attacks and arsons against Jews. Meltzer stated he had updated the IDF and was proceeding to the location when they encountered the ambassador's entourage.

Meltzer had previously sent a detailed letter to Hammer, alleging incitement and encouragement of terrorism by individuals in Turmus Ayya, and citing hundreds of violent incidents by Arabs from the village in the past year. He also referenced his brother Benyahu's murder in Samaria during an attempted lynching of Jewish hikers by Arabs, and stated he has since received threats from Turmus Ayya residents.

Friedman criticized the use of Meltzer's case in the discourse on settler violence, stating, "Jew-haters will have to find another poster boy for their 'settler violence' campaign." Ambassador Hammer, during his visit, stated that "crime is crime and terror is terror" and called for justice against Jews involved in violence against Palestinians.