US House Speaker Johnson, a high-ranking official third in the line of succession to the presidency, has become the most senior US official to ever visit an Israeli settlement in the West Bank. His trip comes amidst a troubling escalation of settler violence against Palestinian communities, which tragically led to the deaths of two American citizens in July.
The visit also coincides with intensified Israeli military operations in the West Bank, including raids, home demolitions, and displacement campaigns, all while Israel continues its assault and blockade on Gaza.
According to the Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Johnson’s visit directly contradicts both joint Arab and US efforts to “end the cycle of violence” and Washington’s official stance against settler “aggressions.” The ministry reasserted that all settlement activity is invalid and illegal, and that such actions undermine the potential for a two-state solution and the achievement of peace.
Israeli media reported that Johnson visited the Ariel settlement, located north of Ramallah, on Monday. The Jerusalem Post quoted him as saying, “Judea and Samaria are the front lines of the state of Israel and must remain an integral part of it,” using the biblical term for the West Bank. He added, “Even if the world thinks otherwise, we stand with you.” These remarks from the House speaker appear to be a clear reference to recent moves by some Western nations—including close allies of the US—to formally recognize a Palestinian state.
