U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, held discussions with Palestinian Americans, including families of U.S. citizens who lost their lives to Israeli settlers, in a town in the occupied West Bank facing settler aggression.

The meeting comes amid mounting international criticism of settler violence and perceived inaction by the Israeli government. While Israel has denounced such violence, arrests and prosecutions of perpetrators are infrequent.

Although Washington has not directly condemned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, it has urged for the prosecution of those responsible, labeling them as terrorists. Huckabee described his talks in Turmus Ayya, a town where many Palestinian residents are U.S. citizens, as productive.

In recent years, Palestinians in the West Bank have experienced increased settler violence and restrictions under Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition. Turmus Ayya, with about 80% of its 3,000 residents holding U.S. citizenship, is regularly targeted by settlers.

Israeli settlements, including Shiloh, surround the town, which Huckabee has visited multiple times. He emphasized the need for Israeli action against individuals engaged in criminal acts and terrorism, highlighting a small faction tarnishing the country’s image.

Contrary to Huckabee’s assertions of a tiny group perpetrating violence, Yasser Alkam, a Palestinian American spokesperson, stated that thousands, not hundreds, of settlers engage in such actions. Despite the challenges, Palestinian Americans like Hadeel Jabara, who lost her husband to settlers in 2023, are looking to the U.S. government for support and protection.

The meeting was seen as a positive step, with hopes for enhanced security measures and concerns for the safety of residents, particularly children. Tragically, at least six Palestinian Americans have lost their lives to either Israeli military or settler violence since 2024.