Recently, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Hammer held a face-to-face exchange with Palestinian-American residents in Turmus Ayya, located in the West Bank. In this town, approximately 80% of the population holds American citizenship, yet over the past year, they have frequently been subjected to violent attacks by Israeli settlers.
After listening to the residents' accounts, Hammer delivered an extremely stern statement. He unambiguously declared that if settlers forcibly invade and seize land and homes that do not belong to them, burn cars, set fire to mosques, or break into private homes to vandalize and deface property, such acts are no longer ordinary criminal offenses—they are outright "terrorist acts," and those perpetrating them are "terrorists."
Hammer emphasized that the Israeli government must take responsibility for providing tangible security guarantees to Palestinian residents in the West Bank and ensure that those who attack civilian homes face "severe consequences." He pointed out that although the number of settlers involved in violence may only be several hundred, it is still far too many, and their actions severely damage Israel's national reputation, giving the misleading impression that such views represent the stance of the majority of Israelis.
Hammer’s firm stance is not without foundation. According to statistics from United Nations relief agencies, on average, six settler-related violent incidents occurred daily in the West Bank during the first half of 2026, forcing more than 2,300 Palestinians—including over 1,000 children—to become displaced. In fact, this marks the second time this year that Hammer has used the term "terrorist" to characterize these settlers. Back in August, when settlers surrounded Palestinian homes in Qusla, he had already employed this rare terminology.
Nevertheless, Hammer’s strong position has made him a target for extremist settlers. Last week, after a mosque in the village of Bizaraya was deliberately set on fire, perpetrators spray-painted a provocative graffiti on the wall in Hebrew: “Terrorists salute Hammer.” In response, Hammer remarked that he was pleased the attackers had “admitted themselves” as terrorists—precisely confirming the nature of their violent behavior.
Although Hammer himself has long been regarded as a staunch supporter of Israel, the escalating violence by settlers has compelled him to adopt a firmer intervention stance. He urges the Israeli government to confront this issue seriously, as tolerating such violence not only harms Palestinian civilians but also severely undermines Israel’s own international image.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1875591542196236/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.