Netanyahu orders West Bank settler outpost removal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the removal of unauthorized settler outposts across the occupied West Bank, according to sources familiar with the matter. The directive, issued on Sunday, September 6, 2026, comes amid increasing pressure from the United States to curb settler violence against Palestinians. The order specifically targets outposts established without official Israeli state authorization, which typically consist of small clusters of prefabricated caravans housing a limited number of settlers. It remains unclear when the operation to dismantle these structures will commence. Israeli media reports suggest the directive affects approximately 100 outposts. The decision is reportedly a direct response to pressure from Washington, Israel's closest ally. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee denounced violent settlers as terrorists on Saturday, September 5, 2026, and called for severe consequences following a meeting with Palestinian-American residents in the West Bank. This follows recent incidents where masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian homes in villages like Qusra and Jalud, actions that Prime Minister Netanyahu had publicly condemned.