TURMUS AYYA, West Bank, 06 September, 2026 (Nosheen) – U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee met Palestinian Americans in the occupied West Bank town of Turmus Ayya on Saturday, including relatives of U.S. citizens killed by Israeli settlers, amid growing settler violence and international calls for stronger U.S. pressure on Israel. The visit came as settler attacks in the West Bank have drawn increasing international condemnation, including from U.S. allies, while Israeli authorities have faced criticism over the limited prosecution of perpetrators. Huckabee described the meeting as constructive and said it was in the Israeli government’s interest to take action against those involved in “criminal behaviour and terrorism.” He referred to the perpetrators as a “tiny group” of a few hundred people damaging Israel’s reputation. Turmus Ayya Mayor Nawwaf Zaghoul said Palestinians in the town were facing constant settler attacks and that about 80% of its residents hold U.S. citizenship. Huckabee, a Baptist minister and longtime supporter of Israeli settlements, has previously called for violent settlers to be prosecuted. He also said the U.S. embassy did not have the power or authority to directly intervene, but could seek to influence the U.S. government and draw attention to issues requiring action. Palestinian American municipality spokesperson Yasser Alkam rejected Huckabee’s characterization that only a few hundred settlers were involved in violence, saying thousands were responsible. He called on Washington to pressure Israel to arrest settlers known to authorities. Among those who met Huckabee was Hadeel Jabara, a Palestinian American mother of two whose husband, Omar, a U.S. citizen, was killed by settlers in 2023. She described the meeting as positive and said she hoped the U.S. government could help protect residents, adding that she feared for her children’s safety. At least six Palestinian Americans have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli military forces or settlers since 2024. The visit comes amid continued restrictions on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and growing concerns over settler violence under Israel’s current government.