Mike Huckabee, U.S. ambassador to Israel, condemns 'horrific' violence in West Bank
asserted
Huckabee → condemn → Bank
Rare rebuke from Huckabee, who says Israeli police have now gone in at U.S. request to quell violence
Mike Huckabee, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, on Thursday condemned a siege by Israeli settlers of a Palestinian American family's home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, calling it a "horrific act of terror.
asserted
Huckabee → say → terror
Since Sunday, according to local officials and family members, settlers have gathered near the home in the village of Qusra and harassed those inside, defying efforts by the Israeli military to defuse the situation.
uncertain
settlers → accord → situation
A group, which has included up to dozens of men, has thrown stones, attempted to bring down a stone wall nearby and prevented the occupants from leaving despite dwindling supplies.
asserted
which → include → supplies
Qusai Abu Rida, who had holed up in the house with his teenage son to defend it, said Thursday morning they have since been moved by Israel's military to another home but still cannot leave the area.
The Israeli military declined to confirm whether it relocated any residents.
asserted
it → hole → residents
Speaking to CBC News from Ohio, the home's owner, Loui Ridi, said that settlers have been targeting his Qusra residence for months before the situation escalated in recent days.
asserted
situation → speak → days
"In the last ... five, six days, things got escalated into a dangerous situation, since settlers decided to siege the house, build a tent, stay in front of the house, not allow in anyone to provide any supplies," he said in an interview.
asserted
he → escalate → interview
Huckabee said that Israeli military and police "have gone at our request to remove the Israeli terrorists doing this."
"Actions by those who carried out this horrific act of terror meant to intimidate and harass this family are disgusting," he said.
asserted
he → say → family
Huckabee is a longtime ally of Israel's settler movement and in the past has expressed support for Israeli control over the occupied West Bank while condemning settler violence.
asserted
Huckabee → express → violence
Qusra Mayor Abed Al Athem Wadi said that six homes in the village had been evacuated and taken over by Israeli soldiers, including three besieged hilltop homes.
asserted
homes → say → homes
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned actions it said were "clearly aimed" at forcing residents to leave "their homes and their land."
asserted
it → condemn → homes
The Canadian government is among those which consider the expansion of West Bank settlements illegal under international law.
asserted
expansion → consider → law
Israeli troops have intervened in recent days to try to restore order.
asserted
troops → intervene → order
The Israeli military said that overnight Thursday, its troops had dismantled "two illegal outposts" on the outskirts of Qusra and a nearby village, and detained one Israeli.
asserted
troops → say → Israeli
It added that additional soldiers had surged to the area, which is about 16 kilometres from the city of Nablus, to "carry out defensive missions and patrols."
asserted
which → add → missions
Prosecutors charge Israeli settler for killing Palestinian activist in West Bank
Amnesty report accuses Israel of 'ethnic cleansing' in West Bank amid expanded settlements
Journalists on the outskirts of Qusra said roads into the village were closed.
asserted
roads → charge → village
In recent weeks, human rights groups and foreign governments, including Canada's, have condemned a continued increase in Israeli settler violence.
asserted
groups → include → violence
Palestinians and the Israeli opposition accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of turning a blind eye to attacks by settlers.
asserted
Palestinians → accuse → settlers
Israel's military condemned the siege as "illegal, reprehensible, and unacceptable" on Tuesday and declared the area a closed military zone.
asserted
area → condemn → Tuesday
But by Wednesday, dozens of settlers had returned and begun to block the road with rocks.
asserted
dozens → return → rocks
Qusra is in one of the most violent pockets of the northern West Bank, surrounded by settlements.
asserted
Qusra → surround → settlements
Last month, a mosque there was set on fire in another apparent settler attack.
asserted
mosque → set → attack
That followed the killing of an Israeli settler, which triggered violence that left two Israeli soldiers and four Palestinian villagers dead.
asserted
that → follow → soldiers
Settlers have been building more outposts, which are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disagrees and actively supports their construction.
asserted
Israel → build → construction
The expansion of settlements has been condemned by many in the international community as aimed at dismantling any remaining hopes of establishing a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank.
asserted
expansion → condemn → Bank
The Palestinians seek the West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 war, as part of a future state.
asserted
Palestinians → seek → state
Many settlers and their supporters say the entire area should belong to Israel for historical, religious and security reasons.
asserted
area → say → reasons
Clarifications
- This article has been edited to provide additional context regarding the construction of settlements in the occupied West Bank.
asserted
article → edit → Bank
The Aporia
