U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has strongly condemned the actions of a group of extremist Israeli settlers who besieged the home of a Palestinian American in the West Bank, labeling the perpetrators "Israeli terrorists." The incident, which saw settlers harass and block access to the home of Loui Ridi in Qusra for several days, prompted a rare and sharp public statement from the ambassador.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) eventually intervened, evicting the settlers and arresting one individual. Huckabee posted on X that the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem had been actively involved and that the IDF and Israeli Police had responded to requests to remove the individuals. He described their actions as "criminal" and "disgusting" with "no excuse for such thuggish behavior."
This strong condemnation comes as settler violence in the West Bank is increasingly seen as a significant problem. A senior Israeli official acknowledged that "Israel doesn't accept vigilantes" and that efforts are underway to curb such sporadic violence, noting that over 350 investigations led to 35 arrests in the first quarter of 2026 alone. However, the official also highlighted the frequent Palestinian terrorist attacks against Jews, stating there were over 300 such attacks in May 2026, and cautioned against drawing a false symmetry between sporadic settler violence and Palestinian terror.
Nadav Eyal, a prominent Israeli columnist, told Fox News Digital that there is a growing consensus within the Israeli political sphere, from left to right, that some actions in the West Bank constitute "Jewish terrorism" and are considered a serious problem by the defense apparatus. Huckabee himself further clarified his stance, stating on X that "'Unsettlers' are the problem in Judea/Samaria," referring to a very small minority causing significant damage to Palestinian families and to Israel.
Leaders within the settlement movements also condemned the violence. Yisrael Ganz, head of the Yesha Council, stated that there is "no place for privately deciding to establish a hilltop outpost in the yard of a house" and that there is "absolutely no justification for violence against uninvolved people or against the security forces." Shai Alon, head of the Beit El Council, described those responsible for attacks on innocent Palestinians as criminals who are causing "irreversible damage" to Israel and the settlement movement.
The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the escalation of "Israeli colonist terrorism" and attacks against Qusra, characterizing the acts as part of systematic policies aimed at displacing Palestinians and annexing the West Bank. Amit Segal, an analyst for Israel's Channel 12 News, noted that settler violence is a sensitive issue in Israel, with only a small fraction of the settler population participating in such acts. Segal pointed out that Huckabee's use of the term "Israeli terrorists" was particularly significant, given his generally pro-settlement stance, and highlighted that the IDF took four days to clear the path for the family to reach their home.
Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., had previously claimed that he was detained by armed Israeli settlers during a visit to the West Bank, an event that was discussed by panelists on 'Fox News @ Night'.