US presses Netanyahu to publicly condemn settler siege of Palestinian homes in West Bank

WASHINGTON, United States — WASHINGTON — The United States has asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly condemn Jewish settlers who have surrounded Palestinian homes in a village in the occupied West Bank, according to two US and Israeli officials cited by Reuters. White House officials said they pressed Netanyahu after learning that a US citizen of Palestinian origin was among those affected by the siege, according to the report. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions. Israeli settlers have surrounded homes in the village of Kusra for roughly a week, Reuters reported, with some Palestinians trapped in the area. Human rights groups have said the settlers are taking coordinated steps to seize additional land, narrowing the territory Palestinians seek for a future state. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Wednesday called the settlers involved in the siege "Israeli terrorists," marking a public US criticism of the action. No further details on the administration's diplomatic outreach were immediately available.