U.S. ambassador calls ongoing West Bank settler violence an "act of terror"

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee denounced Israeli settler violence in the West Bank on Saturday, describing the actions as "an act of terror." During his visit to Turmus Ayya, a village experiencing frequent settler attacks, Huckabee spoke to Palestinian American residents affected by the ongoing violence. He emphasized that while such actions are criminal, they also constitute an act of terror, extending beyond mere criminality.

The ambassador noted that these attacks have intensified since the war in Gaza commenced on October 7, 2023, according to the United Nations humanitarian office. During his address, Huckabee addressed U.S. citizens residing in the region, acknowledging their struggle for a peaceful life and the unfair, illegal challenges imposed by settler actions.

The U.S. Embassy cannot investigate criminal activity but can advise its host government of the need to address these issues and crimes. Huckabee met with about ten affected residents who shared their experiences, with the municipality reporting a surge in settler violence over the past year. Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and East Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war, territories the Palestinians seek for a future state.

The U.N. and international community view these territories as illegally occupied, with Israel constructing nearly 150 settlements housing over 500,000 Jewish settlers.