Isralei Defense Minister and U.S. Ambassador Condemn Settler Violence and Illegal Outpost in Kusra
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee issued sharp statements condemning violent clashes and the setup of an illegal outpost by Israeli extremists in the Palestinian village of Kusra, located in Samaria.
The unrest escalated after extremist activists established an unauthorized outpost inside the village and placed local Palestinian homes under an informal siege, blocking access roads with boulders and harassing residents. Israeli security forces, under direction from IDF Central Command, deployed to dismantle the outpost and clear the area, though activists repeatedly attempted to rebuild it.
In a statement posted on X, Ambassador Huckabee called the perpetrators “Israeli terrorists” and stated that the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem actively urged Israeli military and police forces to intervene and remove them, calling their actions appalling and criminal.
Defense Minister Katz strongly criticized the rioting, warning that such unlawful actions inflict severe diplomatic damage on Israel among its closest international allies.
In response to the escalating friction, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi ordered the deployment of an additional regular infantry battalion to reinforce operational control and maintain order in the sector.
