US Ambassador Condemns Israeli Settler Violence, Calls Attackers 'Terrorists'
SCMP · 2 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee strongly condemned Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, using the term "terrorists" to describe attackers who have carried out months of assaults against Palestinian residents . Huckabee made the comments during a visit to Turmus Ayya, a village that has suffered frequent settler attacks since the Gaza war began in October 2023 . The ambassador's direct use of the term, typically reserved for Palestinian militants, represents a rare public rebuke from a senior US official . During his visit, Huckabee addressed Palestinian American residents who have been shaken by the ongoing violence, acknowledging their concerns directly . The incident comes amid heightened tensions, with settlers even leaving graffiti referencing the ambassador's name in Hebrew .
Key Points
- Ambassador Mike Huckabee visited Turmus Ayya village on Saturday, September 6, 2026, where he met with Palestinian American residents who have endured months of settler attacks
- Huckabee explicitly called settler violence "an act of terror," stating that burning cars, torching mosques, and vandalizing homes "extends beyond a criminal act"
- Settler attacks have surged since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, according to the UN humanitarian office
- Last month, settlers burned a mosque in Bazariya and left graffiti reading "Huckabee regards from the terrorists" in Hebrew; the ambassador responded, "I'm glad they admitted it"
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously condemned the actions of a "handful of rioters" and called the settlers' actions "a disgrace"
Why It Matters
The strong language from the US ambassador marks a significant shift in Washington's approach to Israeli settler violence, a departure from the more cautious rhetoric typically employed by American officials . The incident highlights deepening fractures within Israel's government, as the current administration—the most ultranationalist in Israel's history—has presided over a surge in settlement construction despite international condemnation .
The strong language from the US ambassador marks a significant shift in Washington's approach to Israeli settler violence, a departure from the more cautious rhetoric typically employed by American officials . The incident highlights deepening fractures within Israel's government, as the current administration—the most ultranationalist in Israel's history—has presided over a surge in settlement construction despite international condemnation .