US Envoy Calls Violent Israeli Settlers 'Terrorists' During West Bank Visit
FlatRigor 5226 sources
The Story
US Ambassador to West Jerusalem Mike Huckabee has called violent Israeli settlers terrorists who must be held accountable for targeting Palestinians. Huckabee visited the town of Turmus Ayya near Ramallah on Saturday, meeting with Palestinian American residents. He stated that acts like burning cars, torching mosques, vandalizing homes, and painting graffiti are criminal acts that extend to acts of terror. Huckabee stressed that the Israeli government must provide security to Palestinians in the West Bank and ensure severe consequences for attackers. He said these actions damage Israel's reputation, noting that a few hundred settlers are responsible. The UN relief agency OCHA reported an average of six settler violence incidents daily in the occupied West Bank during the first half of 2026, displacing over 2,300 Palestinians, including more than 1,000 children. Huckabee's use of the term terrorists is typically reserved for Palestinian militants by US officials. Settlers in Bazariya reportedly burned a mosque and left graffiti reading "Huckabee regards from the terrorists" in Hebrew, which Huckabee said meant they admitted it. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the actions of a handful of rioters a week ago, and the foreign ministry called the settlers' actions a disgrace. Netanyahu's government is described as the most ultranationalist and religious in Israel's history, presiding over a surge of settlement construction. Huckabee also addressed proposals by Israeli ministers for the mass removal of Palestinians from Gaza, stating there is no plan of the Israelis to displace people out of Gaza against their will. Defense Minister Israel Katz said there was no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration, and Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir outlined a seven-year plan for voluntary emigration.
The Spread
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What they agree on
- US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called violent Israeli settlers "terrorists" during a visit to the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya on Saturday.
- Huckabee stated that acts such as burning cars, torching mosques, and vandalizing homes are "acts of terror" and require "severe consequences."
- The ambassador emphasized that the Israeli government has a responsibility to ensure the safety and security of Palestinians in the West Bank.
- Huckabee's visit included a meeting with Palestinian American residents in Turmus Ayya, where approximately 80% of the town's 3,000 residents hold US citizenship.
- The United Nations humanitarian office (OCHA) reported a surge in settler attacks since the war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, displacing over 2,300 Palestinians in the first six months of 2026.
Where they split
- RT (Russia Today) leads its coverage with Huckabee branding violent Israeli settlers "terrorists," while The Daily Caller and CBS News frame his statements as condemning settler violence and calling it an "act of terror."
- Al-Monitor and Reuters focus on Huckabee's statements that there is no plan to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza, a point given less prominence in other reports that emphasize the "terrorist" designation.
- The Jerusalem Post includes details about Huckabee meeting relatives of US citizens killed by Israeli settlers, a specific detail not highlighted in all other coverage.
- Middle East Eye and RT provide statistics from OCHA regarding the number of Palestinians displaced by settler violence in 2026, offering specific figures on the scale of the issue.
Source Perspectives
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