The village of Turmus Ayya in the West Bank is home to approximately 80% US citizens who maintain ties to communities in New York, Chicago, and New Jersey. These residents, many of whom are proud of their American citizenship, have faced a surge in violent incidents attributed to Israeli settlers in recent years.
The tension centers on disputed land claims, with an illegal Israeli outpost positioned near Palestinian residences. The outpost radiates from Shilo, a settlement across the valley. Some residents have noted the irony that both communities include Americans, with village council head Yaser Alkam describing the situation as “American citizens invading American citizens for land.” Documented incidents include nighttime attacks involving off-road vehicles, gunshots, and intimidation tactics. In one recent case, the word “Revenge” was spray-painted on a house after a settler attack.
Among those accused of involvement in settler violence is Amishav Melet, whose brother was killed during a clash at another Palestinian village. Melet has publicly expressed the belief that Jews should reclaim all of the West Bank, though he has denied connections to the violence.
The US State Department has stated it condemns violence by all parties in the West Bank and maintains regular dialogue with partners about stability and security. The department also affirmed that the current administration does not support Israeli annexation of the West Bank. However, residents report mixed results when seeking intervention, with nine Palestinian Americans killed in the West Bank since 2022 by settlers or Israeli military forces. Some residents expressed disappointment that the Trump administration removed violent settlers from sanctions lists established under the previous administration. Village residents noted that violence predated the October 2023 Hamas attacks and subsequent Israeli military operations in Gaza but has intensified over the past year.
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