U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee engaged with Palestinian Americans, including relatives of U.S. citizens slain by Israeli settlers, during a visit to a Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank that has been a target of settler aggression.
The meeting occurred against the backdrop of escalating settler violence and criticism of the Israeli government’s perceived inaction, drawing international censure, including from U.S. allies.
While the Israeli government has denounced settler violence, the lack of arrests and prosecutions of perpetrators remains a concern. Washington has not publicly rebuked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration for the violence but has urged for the prosecution of those responsible, with Huckabee branding them as terrorists.
Huckabee described his discussions in Turmus Ayya, where most Palestinian residents hold U.S. citizenship, as productive.
The envoy, known for his support of Israeli settlements and calls for accountability for violent settlers, emphasized that the aggressive settlers constitute a minority within the larger settler community of approximately 750,000 people.
In the occupied West Bank, home to around three million Palestinians, including tens of thousands of American citizens, settler violence has surged amid increasing restrictions under the right-wing Netanyahu coalition since late 2022.
Turmus Ayya Mayor Nawwaf Zaghoul highlighted the ongoing settler attacks faced by residents, with about 80% of the town’s approximately 3,000 inhabitants holding U.S. citizenship.
Israeli settlements, including Shiloh, surround the town, which Huckabee has visited twice since 2025.
Huckabee, the first evangelical Christian U.S. envoy to Israel, refers to the West Bank as Judea and Samaria, its biblical name used by the Israeli government but not formally adopted by the U.S.
During his visit, Huckabee stressed the importance for the Israeli government to address criminal acts and terrorism by a small group of militant settlers, damaging the country’s reputation.
He clarified to Palestinian Americans that the U.S. Embassy lacks the authority to take direct action but can advocate for corrective measures.
In early 2025, President Donald Trump rescinded sanctions imposed by the previous administration on far-right Israeli settler groups involved in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Disagreeing with Huckabee’s assessment, Palestinian American spokesperson Yasser Alkam stated that thousands, not hundreds, of settlers perpetrate violence against Palestinians.
Huckabee’s meeting included Hadeel Jabara, a Palestinian American widow whose husband, Omar, a U.S. citizen, was killed by settlers in 2023. She expressed hope for U.S. assistance in safeguarding residents and voiced concerns for her children’s safety.
Since 2024, at least six Palestinian Americans have lost their lives in the occupied West Bank due to incidents involving Israeli military or settler actions.
