Palestinian Village in West Bank Becomes Influential Hub in US Politics Due to High American Citizenship
A new investigation by the Regavim movement, published on the C14 English website, reveals that up to 90% of permanent residents in the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya in the West Bank hold American citizenship. Located about 20 kilometers north of Ramallah and south of Ariel, Turmus Ayya's population has grown from approximately 1,500 in 1967 to nearly 8,000 today, with an unusually high concentration of US citizens.
The investigation attributes this phenomenon to several legal pathways recognized under American law, including naturalization, citizenship by birth, generational transmission, and family reunification. However, the exceptional scale and concentration of American citizenship in a single village is unprecedented. Beyond demographics, Regavim tracked two activists linked to Turmus Ayya who reside in the United States and have reportedly influenced American political processes.
One activist is identified as a Fatah supporter in the US and has been documented alongside Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and senior PLO officials. The other has publicly praised figures associated with Hamas and Hezbollah on social media. Regavim claims their activities, combined with the village's high American citizenry, have helped bring political pressure in Washington and raised issues concerning Turmus Ayya and the broader Judea and Samaria region on the US political agenda.
The investigation connects their efforts to four letters from US senators and a bill supported by over 100 members of Congress. Regavim calls for American authorities to examine the activists' status and determine if they should register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The movement also demands that these individuals be barred from entering Israel.
This report highlights how a single Palestinian village in the West Bank has developed significant ties to the United States, translating into political influence within the corridors of power in Washington, according to Regavim.
