After harsh condemnation, Huckabee clarifies: 'The settlers are not the problem'

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee issued a clarification this evening following the violence in Qusra, distinguishing between the settler public and the rioters. He wrote that 'the settlers are not the problem' and that it is a small minority causing damage. This comes hours after he called those involved 'Israeli terrorists' and their actions 'a terrible act of terrorism.' A senior State Department official condemned 'criminal violence by any party.'

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee issued an additional message this evening (Thursday) following the violence in Qusra, in which he sought to distinguish between the settler public and the rioters who committed the acts. This comes hours after he called those involved in violence against a Palestinian family in the village 'Israeli terrorists' and their actions 'a terrible act of terrorism.' "'The settlers' are not the problem in Judea and Samaria. The problem is 'lawbreakers,'" Huckabee wrote. "This is a very small minority that causes great harm to Palestinian families and to Israel." The ambassador added that one must distinguish between that minority and the rest of the settler public, citing Israel Ganz as an example. "Real settlers, like Israel Ganz, head of the Yesha Council, condemn the actions of those few," he wrote. "Let us hope the media gives this attention and balances its reports." The message comes after this morning Huckabee harshly attacked the Jews who committed violence against a Palestinian family in Qusra. The ambassador rejected claims that the US Embassy in Jerusalem did not act on the matter, saying it was 'very involved' and that the IDF and Israel Police arrived at the scene at its request to remove the rioters. The State Department also addressed the violence in the West Bank today. A senior official told Walla that Washington condemns 'criminal violence by any party' and views maintaining stability in the West Bank as a direct security interest of Israel.