US envoy Huckabee tells Israeli settlers 'Thou shalt not steal,' in response to West Bank violence
"I think the message is bigger than just even the Trump administration. It's a message of basic civility and civilized behavior," Huckabee told Reuters in Jerusalem.
In response to recent violence in the West Bank, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has spoken out against Israeli settlers who have been accused of stealing property belonging to Palestinian Americans. Speaking to Reuters, Huckabee, a Baptist minister and supporter of Israeli settlements, described such behavior as a violation of God's law.
He warned that those found to have stolen homes or land could face US sanctions. The conflict escalated in August when settlers encircled homes in the West Bank village of Kusra, attempting to seize privately owned Palestinian land. Israeli troops subsequently pushed the settlers back, but they remain nearby and residents fear further encroachment once the troops withdraw.
Huckabee, who recently denounced the perpetrators as "Israeli terrorists," emphasized that the message was one of basic civility and civilized behavior, drawing from both Jewish and Christian scripture: "Thou shalt not steal." He stressed that taking something that does not belong to you is wrong. US officials have estimated that tens of thousands of Palestinian Americans reside in the West Bank, many in the area where Kusra is located.
Ridi, a Palestinian American whose home was targeted, is in contact with Huckabee's team at the US embassy but continues to face harassment from nearby settlers. Huckabee, the first evangelical Christian to serve as US ambassador to Israel, defended the settlements, stating that violent settlers represent a minority and that the community generally seeks peaceful coexistence and security.
However, Palestinians and their allies reject this argument, claiming the settlements encroach on territory intended for an independent Palestinian state. The UN and most countries consider Israel's settlements illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. The US ambassador expressed outrage over the Kusra incident, stating that the targeted Palestinian families were victims of "inexcusable and repugnant criminal activity."
Anyone found guilty could face US sanctions, including a ban on entering the US, though no such measures are currently known to be in place. Israeli police have not charged any settlers involved in the siege, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not commented publicly on the matter. A senior settler leader has condemned the settlers' actions.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
