Huckabee in Turmus Ayya
Reuters reported that the visit came as settler violence and what it described as perceived Israeli government inaction drew international condemnation, and it said Palestinians in Turmus Ayya face what Mayor Nawwaf Zaghoul described as constant settler attacks.
Akhir KhabarHuckabee told reporters in Turmus Ayya that it was in the Israeli government’s interest to take action against those carrying out “criminal behaviour and terrorism,” and he said a “tiny group of little marauders” numbered a few hundred people.
Reuters also said about 80% of Turmus Ayya’s Palestinian residents hold U.S. citizenship, and it reported that Israeli settlements have been established around the town including Shiloh, which Huckabee has visited twice since 2025.
Calls for prosecution
Huckabee urged severe consequences for violent settlers while meeting Palestinian Americans in Turmus Ayya, telling reporters, “Our clear message is that crime is crime, terror is terror.”
The Times of Israel reported that Huckabee said, “When people do it, they should have an expectation that they will have severe consequences,” adding that “the government has a responsibility” to ensure targeted Palestinians’ safety.
Reuters reported that Yasser Alkam, a Palestinian American municipality spokesperson, disagreed with Huckabee’s characterization that only a few hundred settlers were carrying out violence, saying, “There were thousands, he said, not hundreds.”
Reuters also quoted Alkam saying, “The United States does have the power to pressure Israel at least arrest these settlers,” and it reported that he said the authorities know who they are.
Violence, safety, and fallout
Reuters said Huckabee told Palestinian Americans that the U.S. embassy had no power or authority to take action and could only seek to influence and call attention to issues the U.S. government believed needed correction.
The Times of Israel reported that the meeting in Turmus Ayya included families of Palestinian Americans killed by settlers, and it said the town has faced repeated settler attacks.
Reuters further reported that at least six Palestinian Americans have been killed in the West Bank either by the Israeli military or settlers since 2024, underscoring the stakes Huckabee discussed while calling for prosecution and safety.