US State Department Condemns West Bank Violence as Threat to Israeli Security

A senior US State Department official told Walla on November 25, 2025, that Washington is engaged in ongoing dialogue with its partners to enhance stability and security in the West Bank. The official condemned "criminal violence by any party" in the region, emphasizing that maintaining stability in the West Bank is a direct security interest of Israel. "When the West Bank is stable, it protects Israel's security and aligns with this administration's goal of achieving peace in the region," the official stated.

This statement follows recent violent incidents in Judea and Samaria, including a notable event in the Palestinian village of Kusra. Earlier that day, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Herzog issued a rare and strong condemnation of Jewish settlers who attacked a Palestinian family there. Herzog rejected claims that the US Embassy in Jerusalem was inactive, asserting that it was "very involved" and that the Israeli Defense Forces and police responded at the embassy's request to remove the perpetrators.

Ambassador Herzog labeled the attackers as "Israeli terrorists" and described the incident as a "horrific terror act intended to intimidate and harass the family." He stressed that the acts against the family’s home were criminal and that "there is no excuse for such bullying behavior." He also clarified that the White House did not need to intervene separately, as the embassy had already updated Washington on the situation and response.

The senior State Department official expanded the message beyond the Kusra incident, framing violence in the West Bank as a broader issue affecting regional stability. Washington underscored that opposition to violence is not limited to one side and that violence by any party in the West Bank is seen as a direct threat to efforts to maintain stability on the ground.