U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the Christian Palestinian town of Taybeh in the West Bank on Saturday, which has been the scene of several attacks by settlers in recent weeks.
Taybeh residents and local church leaders said the town had experienced an upsurge in settler harassment recently. They pointed to an arson attack, which they said was committed by extremist settlers, next to the ruins of the Church of St. George in the town last week, as one of the most serious incidents so far.
On Monday, the most senior church leaders in the Holy Land toured the Palestinian town and alleged that Israeli authorities have facilitated the ongoing harassment.
“Desecrating a church, mosque or synagogue is a crime against humanity and God,” Huckabee wrote Saturday on X after touring Taybeh.
“I work for ALL American citizens who live in Israel-Jewish, Muslim or Christian. When they are terrorized or victims of crime I will demand those responsible be held accountable with real consequences,” he added.
In a separate statement issued by the State Department, Huckabee denounced the arson attack as “an act of terror” and demanded “harsh consequences” for the perpetrators.
He also appeared to take a shot at Israeli authorities over the lack of enforcement against settler violence.
Continue reading at
