Masked Youths Torch Palestinian Christian Village in West Bank
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has blasted violent attacks by masked youths on the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh, calling it outright “terrorism.” The staunch Israel backer labelled the attackers “terrorist thugs” and demanded tough punishments.
Appointed by Donald Trump in January 2025, Huckabee spoke on November 19, declaring, “Crime is crime, terrorism is terrorism, it doesn’t matter who does it.” His comments came after a surge of settler-linked violence across the West Bank – including arson and property damage in Taybeh, the West Bank’s only entirely Christian town, home to 1,500 Greek Orthodox and Catholic residents.
Visiting Taybeh on November 18, Huckabee met local leaders and called the attacks “an absolute travesty,” promising: “We will insist those who carry out acts of terror be found and prosecuted.”
Settler Violence Hits New Heights Amid Rising Tensions
On November 17, masked youths—mostly teenagers and not local settlers—ransacked Palestinian homes, vehicles, and farmland in Taybeh and nearby Turmus Ayya. Security footage showed arson near the ancient 5th-century Church of St. George cemetery. Crops and grazing cattle were left devastated under military watch. Though no one died, the damage to olive groves and property was severe.
“Most of these people are not actual settlers,” Huckabee stressed. “This is a very small number, mostly youth. They come here to create havoc.” Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu joined the chorus condemning the riots, pledging on November 17: “We will take very forceful action against the riots.”
IDF Chief Eyal Zamir called the violence a serious “red line,” saying it distracts troops from vital security tasks. This spike follows the horrific October 7, 2023 Hamas attack killing 1,200 Israelis. Since then, settler attacks in the West Bank have soared by a staggering 500%.
Legal Crackdown and Diplomatic Controversy
Following Huckabee’s condemnation, Israeli police launched rare terrorism investigations into the settler-linked violence, a serious step beyond usual lesser charges. Some arrests have been made, but no official charges filed as of November 21.
Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza intensified, hitting civilian areas and killing dozens, including children. Hamas denies targeting Israeli forces, disputing the justification for the strikes. Since the ceasefire on October 11, over 300 Palestinians—mostly civilians—have died, part of a tragic death toll topping 69,000 since October 2023.
Huckabee’s hardline stance earned praise from Palestinian Christians but sparked eyebrows over a secret July 2025 meeting with Jonathan Pollard — the convicted spy jailed 30 years for selling US secrets to Israel. The US embassy failed to notify the CIA until after the meeting, stirring major controversy.
The White House claims it was unaware but backs Huckabee. Pollard described the meeting as “personal,” thanking the ambassador for support during his incarceration. Critics blasted the encounter as breaking diplomatic norms.
Huckabee’s Hawkish Israel Support Divides Opinion
As Israel-Palestine tensions soar, Huckabee walks a tightrope—condemning settler violence while maintaining his evangelical pro-Israel stance that supports settlements. His engagement with Pollard signals a shift from typical US diplomatic rules amid fraught debates over Gaza aid and regional peace.
With investigations ongoing in Taybeh, Huckabee vows “equal justice.” On social media, he declared: “Equal justice for all—terror is terror.” The statement earned thousands of likes, highlighting the fierce debate around justice and violence in the region.
