Washington sharpens tone: 'Violence in the West Bank harms Israel's security'

A senior US State Department official tells Walla that Washington is in ongoing dialogue with its partners about stability in the West Bank and condemns 'criminal violence by any party.' The remarks follow a sharp statement by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee against Jews who committed violence against a Palestinian family in the village of Qusra, calling them 'Israeli terrorists' and the act 'this terrible act of terrorism.'

A senior US State Department official told Walla today (Thursday) that Washington is in ongoing dialogue with its partners regarding stability and security in the West Bank, clarifying that the United States condemns 'criminal violence by any party.' According to him, maintaining stability in the West Bank is a direct security interest of Israel. The remarks come in the wake of recent events in Judea and Samaria, and after US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee published a sharp statement this morning against Jews who committed violence against a Palestinian family in the village of Qusra. Huckabee rejected claims that the embassy did not act, asserting that it was 'very involved' and that the IDF and Israel Police arrived at the scene at its request. He called the perpetrators 'the Israeli terrorists who do this' and the act 'this terrible act of terrorism, intended to intimidate and harass this family.' He added that the acts are criminal and that 'there is no excuse for such thuggish behavior.' The official's remarks expand the message beyond the Qusra incident and place the violence in the West Bank in a broader context of regional stability.