The village of Turmus Ayya, located in the West Bank, is home to approximately 80% U.S. citizens of Palestinian descent who maintain strong ties to the United States. These residents, many from cities including New York, Chicago, and Paterson, New Jersey, return regularly to their ancestral homeland to connect with Palestinian culture and teach their children Arabic. The village sits in close proximity to an illegal Israeli outpost, separated by what residents describe as disputed territory marked by a boulder and scorched earth.
Residents report experiencing ongoing violence perpetrated by settlers from nearby outposts and settlements. Night-time attacks involving off-road vehicles, gunfire, and intimidation have become frequent occurrences. In one incident, settlers spray-painted “Revenge” on a family’s home. Village council head Yaser Alkam, a former California attorney, has documented what he describes as a campaign of intimidation, noting the irony that American citizens are attacking other American citizens over land disputes. According to available reports, nine Palestinian Americans have been killed in the West Bank since 2022.
The U.S. government’s role remains contested among residents. While the State Department maintains it provides consular services to all U.S. citizens in the West Bank and condemns violence by any party, residents report inconsistent protection. The current U.S. ambassador to Israel, an evangelical Christian, has made public statements supporting settler claims to the territory and has visited nearby settlements, which the UN characterizes as illegal under international law. Recent administrative actions, including the removal of certain settlers from sanctions lists, have further eroded resident confidence in U.S. support.
Village residents, some of whom voted for the current administration, express frustration over what they perceive as insufficient intervention. While the State Department reiterated that the U.S. does not support Israeli annexation of the West Bank and cited diplomatic dialogue aimed at regional stability, residents argue that greater pressure could be applied to restrain both settlers and military forces. The violence has intensified notably during the current year, though tensions predate the recent military escalation in Gaza.
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