US ambassador calls violent Israeli settlers ‘terrorists’ after weeks of West Bank unrest

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee condemned Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, describing their actions as an "act of terror." He visited Palestinian American residents who have been shaken by months of attacks in the region. The ambassador referred to the settlers as "terrorists," a term typically reserved for Palestinian militants.

He clarified that while the U.S. Embassy cannot investigate criminal activity, it can inform its host government about the need to address the issues and crimes that cannot be ignored. Huckabee's visit came after weeks of unrest in the West Bank town of Qusra, where settlers surrounded homes including one owned by a Palestinian American.

Days later, settlers burned a mosque and left graffiti reading "Huckabee regards from the terrorists" in Hebrew.