U.S. ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya on Saturday to meet residents affected by recent violence from Israeli settlers. He arrived at a home where windows had been smashed twice by settlers and where barbed wire and an American flag were installed for protection.
Huckabee said the violence was committed by a small group of extremists and not representative of the broader population, according to lemonde.fr. He emphasized that such actions must face severe consequences, calling them a form of terror rather than normal behavior.
During his visit, Huckabee met with families who described how settlers had attacked their homes and land in recent months, according to a report from gulftoday.ae. He noted that while there may be a few hundred people responsible for the violence, that number was still too high.
Huckabee also addressed broader concerns about Israel’s government and its policies in the occupied West Bank. He said that Israel had a responsibility to ensure safety for all communities, including Palestinians.
Despite his statement, the Israeli government has continued approving new settlements in violation of international law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has brought far-right figures into government who have spoken openly about expelling Palestinian residents.
Huckabee also denied that Israel was planning to force Palestinians out of Gaza, even though some Israeli ministers had suggested such a move. The ambassador has long supported Israel and settlers, citing his faith as a reason for backing the country’s policies.
He previously avoided using the term Palestinian but now uses it, and refers to the West Bank as Judea and Samaria. Huckabee said he uses these biblical terms because they reflect the ancient history of the land, which he believes is central to understanding its significance.
Settler violence has increased in recent months, with incidents reported nearly daily across the West Bank. In Turmus Ayya, residents have faced constant attacks from settlers, according to local officials.
At least six Palestinian Americans have been killed since 2024 by either Israeli military action or settler violence, The Straits Times reported. Huckabee’s visit came after a rare public statement from Prime Minister Netanyahu condemning settlers who blocked supplies to another Palestinian-American in Qusra.
While he dismissed the idea that most settlers were involved in violence, others have questioned his characterization of the scale of attacks. The situation has drawn attention from international observers and raised concerns about Israel’s growing isolation.
Huckabee’s comments come amid ongoing political tensions in Israel and increasing scrutiny of its policies by U.S. allies.
IMAGE: Mike Huckabee speaking at CPAC in Washington D.C. on February 10, 2012.. Photo: Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia, taken 2012-02-10, CC BY-SA 3.0