US ambassador brands violent Israeli settlers ‘terrorists’ The US ambassador to Israel has branded violent Israeli settlers “terrorists” after another surge of unrest in the occupied West Bank, delivering an unusually blunt condemnation during a visit to Palestinian American residents. Mike Huckabee said attacks including arson, vandalism and the torching of mosques went beyond ordinary criminality, describing them as “an act of terror”. His comments come after weeks of violence and growing pressure on Israel to confront settler attacks. Huckabee delivers stark warning after fresh attacks Visiting the West Bank village of Turmus Ayya, Huckabee met around 10 Palestinian American residents who described the impact of attacks on their homes and property. He said American residents were being denied the peaceful life they deserved by people creating “extraordinary challenges that are unfair and illegal”. The ambassador stressed that the US Embassy could not investigate crimes itself, but could press Israel to investigate and prosecute them. Huckabee used similar language last month after unrest in Qusra, where settlers surrounded homes including one belonging to a Palestinian American. Graffiti aimed at ambassador exposes fury The ambassador’s comments have already made him a target for some settlers. After residents of Bazariya said a mosque was burned and graffiti was left reading “Huckabee regards from the terrorists” in Hebrew, he responded: “I’m glad they admitted it.” Huckabee said the perpetrators represented a “very tiny minority”, but insisted the violence could not be ignored. Netanyahu faces mounting pressure over settlers Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned what he called the actions of a “handful of rioters”, while Israel’s foreign ministry described the violence as “a disgrace”. The confrontation comes as settlement construction expands across the West Bank under Israel’s most ultranationalist and religious government. Nearly 150 settlements are home to more than 500,000 Jewish settlers, while the UN and much of the international community regard the territory as illegally occupied. Rights groups have also accused Israeli forces of frequently turning a blind eye to settler violence. Israel’s defence minister has announced plans to shift law enforcement responsibilities involving settlers fully to the Israeli police, putting renewed focus on whether perpetrators will face meaningful consequences. US ambassador calls violent Israeli settlers 'terrorists' after weeks of West Bank unrest
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