US Ambassador Denies White House Intervened in Jewish Terror Incident in West Bank Village

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Herzog denied reports that the White House directly intervened in the August incident in the West Bank village of Kusra, where dozens of Israeli settlers besieged two homes. However, Herzog confirmed that he and the US Embassy in Jerusalem were actively involved, requesting Israeli authorities to act. "The US Embassy in Jerusalem was very involved, and the IDF and Israeli police arrived at our request to remove the Israeli terrorists responsible," Herzog stated. He condemned the settlers' actions as criminal and described them as a "horrific terror act" aimed at intimidating the family targeted.

The incident involved settlers confronting Israeli soldiers, dismantling fences, and blocking roads, leading the military to declare the area a closed military zone. Herzog emphasized that the White House was kept informed but did not directly intervene. He also rejected claims that the embassy failed to respond to the event. Earlier, Israeli officials also denied that the White House was involved in the matter.

The ambassador’s remarks came during a visit to the Eshkol Regional Council and Kibbutz Magen on September 1, 2025, where he participated in a tree-planting ceremony marking the start of the school year. The episode highlights ongoing tensions in Area B of the West Bank and the US Embassy’s role in urging Israeli authorities to address settler violence.