US says American citizen killed in violence in occupied West Bank

WASHINGTON

The US said Monday that an American citizen was killed during violence in Israel and the occupied West Bank, adding it is “extremely concerned” by this weekend’s events in the region.

“As we noted yesterday, we condemn the horrific killing of two Israeli brothers near Nablus and the killing today of an Israeli near Jericho, who we understand was also an American citizen,” State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters during a daily press briefing, expressing the US’s “deepest condolences” to the victims’ families and loved ones.

“We also condemn the wide-scale, indiscriminate violence by settlers against Palestinian civilians,” he said, noting the attacks led to the death of one Palestinian man.

“These actions are completely unacceptable,” he stressed. “The United States extends its deepest condolences to those affected by this violence.”

​​​​​​​US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides also confirmed the killing of a US citizen in a Twitter post, saying: “Sadly, I can confirm that a U.S. citizen was killed in one of the terror attacks in the West Bank tonight. I pray for his family".

Dozens of Israeli settlers attacked the Palestinian town of Huwara on Sunday and set fire to several Palestinian homes and vehicles. A Palestinian was killed in the attack.

The violence followed the killing of two Israeli settlers in a shooting attack in the town.

Violence has escalated across the occupied territories in recent weeks amid repeated Israeli military raids into Palestinian towns.

According to Palestinian figures, at least 62 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the start of the year. Twelve Israelis were also killed in attacks by Palestinians in the same period.