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Huckabee Calls Violent Israeli Settlers Terrorists During West Bank Visit
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, visited Turmus Ayya in the West Bank.
The town has many Palestinian American residents.
People there said Israeli settlers have repeatedly attacked them and damaged their homes.
Some families told Huckabee that U.S. citizens from the area were killed by settlers or Israeli forces.
Huckabee called violent settlers “terrorists” and said Israel should investigate and punish them.
He also said only a very small group of settlers commit violence.
A local spokesperson disagreed and said thousands may be involved.
Huckabee said the U.S. Embassy cannot make arrests but can pressure governments to address the problem.
Israel has condemned settler violence, but reports say suspects are rarely prosecuted.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee met Palestinian Americans and relatives of U.S. citizens killed by settlers in Turmus Ayya.
Residents and Mayor Nawwaf Zaghoul described frequent attacks, harassment and property damage by Israeli settlers.
Huckabee called violent settlers “terrorists” and urged Israel to investigate and prosecute them.
Huckabee said violent settlers are a tiny minority of the roughly 750,000-strong settler community, while local spokesperson Yasser Alkam said thousands are involved.
The United Nations and most countries consider the West Bank occupied and settlements illegal under international law, while Israel calls the territory disputed.
- Who
- U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, Palestinian American residents, relatives of slain U.S. citizens and Turmus Ayya Mayor Nawwaf Zaghoul.
- What
- Huckabee met residents and condemned violent Israeli settlers as “terrorists,” while discussing safety and accountability.
- Where
- Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah in the West Bank.
- When
- Saturday, September 5, according to the reports; the coverage also references violence since late 2022 and the Gaza war’s beginning on October 7, 2023.
- Why
- Residents sought protection and stronger action against settlers accused of attacks, harassment and property damage.
Palestinian Residents and International View
Israeli and U.S. Official Position
Scale of settler violence
Palestinian Residents and International View
Turmus Ayya residents and municipality spokesperson Yasser Alkam described attacks as widespread; Alkam said thousands of settlers, rather than only a few hundred, were involved.
Israeli and U.S. Official Position
Huckabee said violent settlers are a tiny minority of the approximately 750,000 settlers. Israeli officials have described perpetrators as a handful of rioters.
Pressure and accountability
Palestinian Residents and International View
Residents said the United States has enough influence to pressure Israel to identify and arrest suspected attackers, and asked for stronger protection.
Israeli and U.S. Official Position
Huckabee called for prosecution but said the U.S. Embassy lacks authority to take direct action. Israel has condemned settler violence, though prosecutions are reportedly rare.
Status of the West Bank
Palestinian Residents and International View
The United Nations and most countries consider the West Bank occupied territory and Israeli settlements there illegal under international law.
Israeli and U.S. Official Position
The Israeli government describes the West Bank as disputed rather than occupied. Huckabee uses the term “Judea and Samaria,” a biblical name used by Israel but not adopted by the U.S. government.
Key facts
- Town population
- Turmus Ayya has roughly 3,000 residents, according to its mayor.
- Palestinian American residents
- Mayor Nawwaf Zaghoul said about 80% of the town’s Palestinian residents are U.S. citizens.
- Settler population
- Huckabee said the wider Israeli settler community numbers around 750,000; another report said more than 500,000 settlers live in nearly 150 West Bank settlements.
- Reported deaths
- At least six Palestinian Americans have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli military forces or settlers since 2024, according to the reports.
- Accountability
- Israeli settlers accused of attacks are rarely arrested and even less frequently prosecuted, according to the coverage.
- U.S. Embassy role
- Huckabee said the embassy cannot investigate or take direct enforcement action, but can raise concerns and seek to influence Israel.
- U.S. sanctions policy
- In January 2025, President Donald Trump rescinded sanctions imposed by the Biden administration on far-right Israeli settler groups and individuals accused of violence.
Quotes
Mike Huckabee
U.S. Ambassador to Israel
“I don’t think that’s what they intended to do, but I do think that they represent a very tiny minority.”
thehansindia.com
“But it extends beyond a criminal act. It’s an act of terror.”
thehansindia.com
Nawwaf Zaghoul
Mayor of Turmus Ayya
“The United States does have the power to pressure Israel at least arrest these settlers, which are known to the authorities. They can identify them, one by one, and arrest them, if they want to, with the right amount of pressure from the United States embassy and the United States administration.”
telegraphindia.com
“We are hoping that (the ambassador) will do something for us regarding these lawless settlers”
theprint.in
Sources
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