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The U.S. Embassy in Israel announced that it will begin offering consular services to American citizens living in Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
In a written statement, the embassy said that passport services will begin Friday, Feb. 27, in the Efrat settlement south of Jerusalem as part of efforts to “reach all U.S. citizens.”
The embassy added that consular officials will also conduct a “field visit” to the Beitar Illit settlement, also south of Jerusalem, within the next two months.
The embassy said the new services underscore its commitment to providing assistance to all U.S. citizens living in or visiting Israel and the West Bank.
Officials said passport and other routine consular services will be available in the field to reduce travel burdens for Americans in these communities.
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has frequently visited Jewish settlements in the West Bank and in Jerusalem for various reasons, according to local press reports.
Israeli news outlet Haaretz noted that this will be the first time that the U.S. Embassy provides field consular services in West Bank settlements.
Huckabee, who has described himself as a “Christian Zionist,” drew international criticism for remarks made in an interview with journalist Tucker Carlson.
In that interview, he defended Israeli actions in Gaza and argued that Israel has a biblical right to land from the Nile River to the Euphrates River, saying, “It would be fine if they took it all.”
More than 10 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, issued a joint statement calling Huckabee’s comments “dangerous and inflammatory.”
The official account of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the U.S. announcement on consular services in the West Bank.
The MFA account highlighted that the move facilitates access to consular assistance for Americans residing in the area, reinforcing ties between the two countries.
The tweets from both the U.S. Embassy and the Israeli MFA emphasized the implementation of field services for American citizens and reflected diplomatic cooperation on the issue.
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