US Ambassador Mike Huckabee Visits Palestinian Town of Turmus Ayya
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee made a rare visit to the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya near Ramallah. He met with local residents, approximately 80% of whom hold US citizenship, including families of those killed by settlers.
The United States Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, known as a staunch supporter of the settlement movement, made a rare visit on Saturday to the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya in the Ramallah district of the West Bank, Reuters reported.
Meeting with American Citizens
Huckabee met with local residents, including family members of American citizens who were killed by settlers. In recent years, Turmus Ayya has become one of the most prominent friction points in Judea and Samaria, with residents suffering from a wave of raids and violent attacks.
The town holds a unique status: according to Mayor Nawaf Zaghal, approximately 80% of the town's 3,000 residents hold US citizenship. Ahead of the meeting, Zaghal made it clear that the residents would demand the US administration act decisively to guarantee their safety and security. Local resident Samir Hazama expressed hope that the administration representative would take practical steps against the rioters.
Escalating Violence and Settlement Expansion
Violence in Judea and Samaria has surged since the late 2022 establishment of the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. Residents report that the establishment of outposts and the expansion of settlements have made harassment and arson a daily routine, while indictments against those involved in attacks remain rare.
At the same time, the government is promoting extensive settlement expansion—a move that deepens Israeli control over territory that the international community and the UN view as occupied, while Israel defines it as disputed territory.
The Ambassador's Stance
Huckabee, a former Baptist minister who consistently uses the biblical term "Judea and Samaria" (contrary to the official State Department terminology), has previously called for the prosecution of violent settlers, but emphasized that they represent a marginal minority out of approximately 750,000 settlers.
This is not the first time the ambassador has visited sensitive locations beyond the Green Line:
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In June 2025, he visited the village of Taybeh after a church was desecrated there, defining the attack on the place of worship as an act of terror.
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Conversely, Huckabee has visited the settlement of Shilo—located adjacent to Turmus Ayya—at least twice since 2025.
