US wants Netanyahu to condemn settler siege in Palestinian village

QUSRA, Aug 14: The United States wants Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn a siege imposed by Jewish settlers in a Palestinian village, US and Israeli officials said on Friday, as settlers pressured residents by pitching a new tent before Israeli soldiers arrived and it was taken down.
Settlers have been besieging homes in Qusra in the occupied West Bank for almost a week, trapping Palestinians in an area where rights groups say settlers are mounting a concerted effort to seize more land, further eating into territory where Palestinians aim to establish a state.
The siege has drawn public US criticism: the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee �" a strong supporter of Jewish settlement in the West Bank �" on Thursday condemned settlers besieging a Palestinian home as "Israeli terrorists".
A US official and an Israeli official said on Friday White House officials are pressing Netanyahu to publicly condemn the siege.
Washington began to protest after learning that the home of a Palestinian-American was among those under siege, said the two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive discussions, of which they had knowledge.
Netanyahu has not commented on the siege inQusra. Neither his office nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment.
Settler violence in the West Bank has risen during the three years since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks on Israel.
"We are very afraid," said Aysha Hassan, a Palestinian woman who lives in one of three besieged homes in the village, speaking to Reuters by phone.
"There is nothing new. It's been like this for six days...the settlers are still here."
AFP adds, US President Donald Trump's envoy and son-in-law Jared Kushner will visit Israel next week in hopes of bridging gaps on a Gaza plan rejected by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, officials said Friday.
Kushner and NickolayMladenov, the high representative for Gaza of Trump's so-called Board of Peace implementing the deal, will visit both Israel and key mediator Egypt.
"The United States and Israel agree on the end state, which is a demilitarised Hamas," the official said on condition of anonymity.
"We will hear the concerns that have been raised and talk about next steps. What is critical is that we both agree on the desired outcome and are finding ways to accelerate progress."�"AGENCIES