US Urges Netanyahu to Condemn Settler Violence in Qusra

The United States is pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn a wave of settler violence in the occupied West Bank after learning that one of the targeted homes belonged to a Palestinian-American, according to a U.S. official and an Israeli official who spoke to Reuters. The diplomatic friction mounts as Jewish settlers maintain a nearly week-long siege on Palestinian properties in the village of Qusra.

Diplomatic Pressure Mounts Over Qusra Siege

Washington’s escalating concern follows fierce public criticism from U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. A staunch supporter of Jewish settlement in the West Bank, Huckabee condemned settlers besieging Palestinian homes as “Israeli terrorists” on Thursday. A U.S. official and an Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters, told Reuters that White House officials are now directly urging Netanyahu to issue a public condemnation.

“A stable West Bank keeps Israel secure and is in line with this administration’s goal to achieve peace in the region,” a White House official stated to Reuters. Netanyahu has not commented on the ongoing siege in Qusra, and his office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Inside the Besieged Homes of Qusra

Settlers began encircling three homes in the Ras al-Ain area of Qusra earlier in the week, blocking roads with stones, erecting tents, and cutting off water and electricity supplies. Approximately 15 Palestinians, including two children, remain trapped inside the buildings. Aysha Hassan, a resident of one of the besieged homes, described the ongoing fear to Reuters by phone. “We are very afraid,” Hassan said. “There is nothing new. It’s been like this for six days… the settlers are still here.”

The United Nations reported that the residents are trapped in a state of terror without basic utilities. On Friday, foreign and Israeli activists attempted to deliver food, bottled water, and canned goods. However, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, Israeli forces declared the area a closed military zone and prevented activists from reaching the properties directly. Hassan noted that the military eventually allowed residents to retrieve aid laid out on a dirt path.

Footage obtained by Reuters showed seven settlers standing near a blue tent, with one throwing stones toward the village before Israeli army vehicles and soldiers arrived. The Israeli military stated that civilian settlers erected a tent in the area and that IDF soldiers operated to remove it while protecting local residents.

Political Stakes and Proposed Legal Shifts

Condemning settler violence carries significant political risk for Netanyahu, who faces an election in a matter of months. Parts of his right-wing coalition—the most right-wing in Israeli history—rely heavily on settler support, and recent opinion polls indicate his security credentials remain shaken by the 2023 Hamas attacks.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered preparations to transfer responsibility for enforcing civilian law involving settlers in the occupied West Bank from the military to the Israeli police. Political scientist Ibrahim Rabaia told Al Jazeera that the proposed shift appears driven by political motivations. Rabaia questioned how effectively the police would act, noting that the force is controlled by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, whom he stated arms and supports West Bank settlers.

Amnesty International’s Senior Director for Research, Advocacy, Policy and Campaigns, Erika Guevara Rosas, sharply criticized the developments on Friday. Rosas stated that the horrors in Qusra reflect an accelerating pattern of coordinated settler terror enabled and funded by the state, aiming to displace Palestinians across the territory. She urged the international community to impose sanctions on senior Israeli officials responsible for international crimes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the United States pressing Benjamin Netanyahu?

Washington is demanding a public condemnation from Netanyahu after discovering that a Palestinian-American owns one of the homes targeted by settlers in Qusra.

What is happening in the West Bank village of Qusra?

Jewish settlers have besieged three homes for nearly a week, cutting off water and electricity supplies while trapping roughly 15 Palestinians inside, according to United Nations reports.

What role does Mike Huckabee play in this diplomatic friction?

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, typically a vocal supporter of West Bank settlements, publicly condemned the settlers involved in the siege as “Israeli terrorists” on Thursday.

How has the Israeli government responded to the Qusra siege?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not commented on the siege, and his office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported removing a settler tent erected near the besieged homes.