US envoy Mike Huckabee labels violent West Bank settlers terrorists in town hall

Diplomatic visit to Turmus Ayya

United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the West Bank town of Turmus Ayya on Saturday, 5 September 2026, to meet with Palestinian American residents who have faced recurring attacks by Israeli settlers. Around 80% of the town's population holds dual Palestinian and American citizenship, according to Mayor Nawwaf Zaghoul. During the town hall gathering, local families recounted experiences of property damage, physical assaults, and restricted movement under Israeli military administration. Two Israeli settlers in an off-road vehicle drove within 100 metres of the meeting site during the envoy's presence in the town. Huckabee told attendees he was deeply grieved by their accounts and stated that the United States would seek resolutions to the security challenges they described.

If there are squatters that come in and put up their own flags and take possession of something that does not belong to them, if they burn a car, if they torch a mosque, if they go into someone's home and vandalize it, paint graffiti on the walls, that's a criminal act. But it extends beyond a criminal act. It's an act of terror.

Denunciation of settler violence

Huckabee characterized violent settlers as terrorists, using phrasing that United States officials have historically applied to Palestinian militants. He emphasized that the Israeli government carries direct responsibility for maintaining safety and protecting all civilians throughout the occupied territory. The ambassador also noted that perpetrators of property destruction and violence must encounter severe consequences from law enforcement authorities. While Huckabee condemned the attacks, he maintained that the individuals carrying out violence constitute a very tiny minority among the broader settler population.

Our clear message is that crime is crime, terror is terror. When people do it, they should have an expectation that they will have severe consequences.

Escalation across the West Bank

The meeting in Turmus Ayya follows a documented surge in settler attacks across the West Bank throughout 2026. Data from the United Nations indicates that more than 1,000 Palestinians have sustained injuries in settler attacks since the beginning of 2026. In August 2026, settlers besieged homes in Qusra, including property belonging to a Palestinian American, while an attack on a mosque in Bazariya left Hebrew graffiti addressing Huckabee directly. At least six Palestinian Americans have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since 2024. Roughly 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank alongside approximately 750,000 Israeli settlers.

Community reactions and political backdrop

Residents in Turmus Ayya expressed cautious and mixed assessments regarding the outcome of the diplomatic visit. Local coordinator and American citizen Yasser Alqam explained that while residents welcomed the visit, the ambassador did not provide concrete plans for halting future attacks. Ruwan Alqam, a Palestinian American who moved to the town from Texas four months earlier, reported that her family faced rock attacks by settlers while traveling to Nablus. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned violent rioters a week earlier, though Israeli authorities rarely prosecute settler violence cases. The visit occurred as the Israeli government prepares for parliamentary elections scheduled for 27 October 2026.

We pinned a lot of hopes on the ambassador's visit. But he didn't give us satisfactory answers.