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

A senior official from the US State Department told Walla that Washington is engaged in ongoing dialogue with its partners regarding stability and security in the West Bank. The official emphasized that the US condemns criminal violence from all parties in the area, stating, "When the West Bank is stable, it protects Israel's security and aligns with this administration's goal of achieving peace in the region."

This statement follows a sharp condemnation by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Herzog of Jewish rioters in the West Bank village of Kausara. Herzog labeled the perpetrators "Israeli terrorists" and described their actions as a "horrific terrorist act" aimed at intimidating a Palestinian family. He rejected claims that the US Embassy in Jerusalem was inactive, affirming the embassy's significant involvement and coordination with the IDF and Israeli police, who intervened at the embassy's request to remove the rioters.

The ambassador further clarified that the violent acts against the family’s home were criminal with no justification for such bullying behavior. He also noted that the White House did not need to intervene separately, as the embassy had kept Washington fully informed of the situation and response.

The senior State Department official’s remarks broaden the US message beyond the Kausara incident, framing violence in the West Bank as a wider threat to regional stability. Washington stresses that opposition to violence is not limited to one side and that any violent acts undermine efforts to maintain stability on the ground.

These developments highlight the US administration’s view that maintaining order in the West Bank is a direct security interest for Israel and a key component of its broader peace objectives in the Middle East.