In a rare and forceful condemnation, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has labeled a small faction of extremist Israeli settlers as “Israeli terrorists” for their violent actions, including the seizure of a home belonging to a Palestinian American from Ohio. The incident, which saw the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) eventually evict the perpetrators and arrest one individual, highlights a growing problem of unauthorized outposts and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, drawing criticism towards Israeli authorities for not doing enough to curb these acts. Huckabee, responding on X to accusations of U.S. inaction, stated that the embassy had been “VERY involved” and that the IDF and Israeli Police acted at their request to remove the “Israeli terrorists.” He characterized their actions as criminal and “disgusting thuggish behavior” with no excuse, emphasizing that the White House was kept apprised of the situation. The confrontation occurred in Qusra, where settlers had reportedly besieged three homes for several days, including one owned by Palestinian American Loui Ridi. A senior Israeli official acknowledged the issue, stating Israel does not accept vigilantes or violence from “juvenile delinquents,” and highlighted significant efforts to curb such sporadic violence, including increased investigations and arrests, while also noting the daily Palestinian terrorist attacks against Jews. Prominent Israeli columnist Nadav Eyal echoed concerns, telling Fox News Digital that a growing consensus in Israel, across the political spectrum, views some actions in the West Bank as “Jewish terrorism,” which the Israeli defense apparatus considers a serious problem. Huckabee further clarified his stance on X, distinguishing between the broader settler population and the “Unsettlers” who cause “great damage.” Leaders of Israeli settlement movements, like Yisrael Ganz of the Yesha Council, also condemned the violence, stating there is “no place for privately deciding to establish a hilltop outpost” or for violence against uninvolved people. The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the “escalation of Israeli colonist terrorism” as part of systematic policies to displace Palestinians and annex the West Bank. Analyst Amit Segal observed that settler violence is a sensitive issue in Israel, with only a small minority participating, but acknowledged Huckabee’s strong denunciation as a “damning verdict” given his typically pro-settlement stance, noting the military’s difficulty in clearing the path for the family to access their home for four days.
Adapted from: Latest World News on Fox News
