The Hill Discovers Settler 'Terrorism,' Forgetting Its Own Archives
The Hill posits that Trump (of all people) is the sole deterrent to settler “terrorism” (their word, not ours, historically). This breathtaking amnesia conveniently glosses over the fact that successive U.S. administrations, including Trump's, have greenlighted settlement expansion through rhetoric, financial aid, and a consistent refusal to condition aid. For instance, in 2020, then-Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo visited an Israeli settlement, (a first for a high-ranking US diplomat), effectively normalizing illegal occupation under Trump’s watch. Public records show organizations like AIPAC have consistently lobbied for unrestricted aid to Israel, totaling billions, while simultaneously advocating against measures that would pressure Israel to halt settlement activities. This includes
hundreds of millions in direct political contributions reported by OpenSecrets, influencing numerous votes that perpetuate the very situation now being lamented. So, The Hill wants 'strongman' Trump to stop something U.S. policy (heavily influenced by lobbying efforts) has actively enabled? It's not settler violence; it's U.S.-funded settler violence. Perhaps they'd prefer acknowledging the
systematic dispossession, rather than conjuring political savior narratives from the very figures who exacerbated the problem.