The United States ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, condemned a rise in violent attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank during a visit to the village of Turmus Ayya on Saturday. Describing such attacks as an “act of terror,” Huckabee used the term “terrorists” to refer to the settlers—a designation typically reserved by U.S. officials for Palestinian militants.

Huckabee’s remarks followed a surge of settler-led violence that has intensified since the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. The United Nations has documented an increase in such attacks, which include arson, vandalism, and physical assaults on Palestinians. During his visit, Huckabee met with approximately 10 Palestinian American residents who shared accounts of intimidation and destruction of property. One local official, Yasser Alqam, expressed disappointment with the visit, stating that while the ambassador listened and spoke strongly, he did not provide concrete assurances for change.

The ambassador acknowledged that while the U.S. Embassy does not have the authority to investigate crimes, it can pressure the Israeli government to address security concerns and ensure investigations and prosecutions. “Crime is crime and terror is terror,” Huckabee said, emphasizing the need for equal application of justice for all crimes committed in the West Bank.

Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Middle East war, and the territory is considered by much of the international community, including the United Nations, as illegally occupied. Israel has established nearly 150 settlements in the West Bank, home to over 500,000 Jewish settlers, many of which resemble developed suburbs. Israeli military forces maintain control over the territory, but human rights groups argue that they often fail to prevent or hold settlers accountable for attacks on Palestinians. According to Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights organization, only a small fraction of investigations into settler violence between 2005 and 2025 have resulted in convictions.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned acts of violence by what he described as “a handful of rioters” following recent unrest, calling settler attacks a “disgrace.” The Israeli police reported arrests of over 15 individuals linked to attacks across the West Bank, including the siege of a home in Qusra, an incident that especially drew attention after settlers surrounding the house last month included a Palestinian American resident.

Huckabee’s visit was notable due to his previous political alignment with right-wing settler groups in Israel, making his outspoken condemnation of settler violence an unusual intervention. During the meeting with Palestinian Americans, residents expressed fears about their safety and the ongoing harassment under Israeli military occupation. Some voiced concern over the lack of protection, highlighting the vulnerability of U.S. citizens living in the West Bank.

While Huckabee pledged to exert “pressure” to resolve issues raised at the town hall, he stopped short of assessing whether Israeli authorities are doing enough to bring perpetrators to justice. A spokesman for the Israeli prime minister’s office did not comment on Huckabee’s remarks. The situation continues to underline the complexities of law enforcement and justice in the West Bank amid ongoing tensions between Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents.