US ambassador visits Palestinian town amid rise in West Bank settler violence

On September 5, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee met with Palestinians, including families of victims of Israeli settlers, in Turmus Ayya, a West Bank town repeatedly targeted by militant settlers. Settler violence has surged since right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government assumed power in late 2022. Turmus Ayya, near Ramallah, is home to several settlements and hosts about 80% Palestinian American residents, who expressed concerns over settler harassment and attacks.

Mayor Nawwaf Zaghoul stated that constant attacks by settlers have left residents unable to stop the intruders. Huckabee, a Baptist minister who supports Israeli settlements, called for the prosecution of violent settlers, acknowledging they represent a small minority within the community. Despite Israeli settlements being deemed illegal under international law, Netanyahu's government maintains they are part of disputed territory.

Huckabee has visited settlements around Turmus Ayya multiple times since 2025, including Shiloh, a settlement near the town.