US Ambassador Condemns Israeli Settlers as Terrorists Over West Bank House Seizure

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Herzog sharply condemned the takeover of a Palestinian family home by extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Kusra. In an unusually strong statement on Thursday, Herzog called the settlers "Israeli terrorists" and said the Israeli military and police acted at the US request to remove them. He described the settlers' actions as criminal and intended to intimidate the Palestinian family, emphasizing there is no excuse for such bullying behavior.

The ambassador's remarks come amid a diplomatic crisis triggered by the incident, which sparked outrage in Washington. Senior US officials and members of Congress demanded immediate clarifications from Israel, with some expressing shock over the settlers' siege of Kusra. Questions were raised publicly about the Israeli military's failure to prevent harm to Palestinian residents, with some US officials questioning whether there is anarchy in Israel.

The Israeli military condemned the settlers' blockade of Kusra as illegal and deplorable, noting recent reports of Israeli civilians entering Palestinian homes and lands in Kusra and nearby Jalud. The diplomatic tension is heightened by Herzog's known previous support for Israel and the settlements, making his harsh language particularly significant. The Kusra events followed the killing of two Israelis near the village of Tal about three weeks ago, after which settlers blocked access roads and cut off water and electricity to Kusra, actions the military said harmed the daily lives of Palestinian residents.

The US Embassy confirmed it has informed Washington about the situation, underscoring the seriousness with which the US views the settlers' actions and their impact on Israeli-Palestinian relations and Israel's standing with its closest ally.