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🇦🇷 Argentina /Elections & Politics

US ambassador calls violent Israeli settlers “terrorists” after West Bank unrest

From Clarín · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Ongoing story
  • US Ambassador Mike Huckabee described violent Israeli settlers as “terrorists” during a visit to the West Bank village of Turmus Ayya.
  • He cited arson, vandalism, property seizures and attacks on mosques and homes, while the United Nations says settler attacks have increased since the Gaza war began.
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Foreign Ministry have also condemned the actions, calling the perpetrators a small group of rioters and a disgrace.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee used a word American officials usually reserve for Palestinian militants: “terrorists.” He applied it to Israeli settlers who burn cars or mosques, vandalize homes and take over property during attacks in the West Bank.

If there are squatters who come and put up their own flags and take over something that does not belong to them, if they burn a car, if they set fire to a mosque, if they enter someone’s home and vandalize it, paint graffiti on the walls, that is a criminal act. But it goes beyond a criminal act. It is an act of terrorism.

· Mike HuckabeeThe US ambassador described the conduct he said justified labeling violent settlers as terrorists.

Speaking Saturday in Turmus Ayya, Huckabee said such actions went beyond ordinary criminality. “If there are squatters who come and put up their own flags and take over something that does not belong to them, if they burn a car, if they set fire to a mosque, if they enter someone’s home and vandalize it, paint graffiti on the walls, that is a criminal act. But it goes beyond a criminal act. It is an act of terrorism.”

The United Nations humanitarian office says settler attacks have surged since the Gaza war began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Huckabee used the same term last month after weeks of unrest in Qusra, where settlers surrounded several homes, including one owned by a Palestinian American.

I’m glad they admitted it.

· Mike HuckabeeHe responded to graffiti left after settlers allegedly burned a mosque in Bazariya.

Days later, residents of Bazariya said settlers burned a mosque and wrote in Hebrew on a wall, “Greetings to Huckabee from the terrorists.” “I’m glad they admitted it,” Huckabee said Saturday. He added that he believed they represented “a very small minority.”

I’m very aware that many of the Americans who live in Turmus Ayya and in other communities in this region do not enjoy the life they deserve to live, do not enjoy it peacefully.

· Mike HuckabeeHe addressed Palestinian-American residents during his visit to Turmus Ayya.

Netanyahu last week condemned the actions of “a handful of rioters,” while Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the settlers’ actions “a disgrace.” During his visit, Huckabee said Palestinian Americans in Turmus Ayya and other communities were not living peacefully and faced “extraordinary challenges that are unfair and illegal.” He said the US Embassy could not investigate criminal activity, but could tell Israel that needs had to be addressed and issues could not be ignored.

a very small minority

· Mike HuckabeeHe characterized the violent settlers involved in the incidents.
About this summary

Originally published by Clarín in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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