Palestinian man beaten to death by Israeli settlers was US citizen, Arab-American group confirms

Middle East Eye

2 days ago

The 23-year-old Palestinian who was beaten to death by Israeli settlers near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Friday has been confirmed to be a US citizen, according to the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC).
"Under the protection of government officials, Israeli settlers lynched a Palestinian American man from Tampa, Florida," a statement issued by the group said.
"Saif al-Din Musalat (also reported as Sayfollah Musallet), born in Port Charlotte, Florida, was visiting family for the summer when he was beaten to death while protesting the construction of a new illegal Israeli outpost on village land in al‑Mazra'a ash‑Sharqiya. An ambulance was blocked from reaching him for nearly two hours," the ADC said.
"This horrific murder is yet another example of Israel killing American citizens. As of the issuance of this statement, no one has been arrested, no one has been indicted, and—if the past is any guide—no one will be held accountable for the death of Saif," the statement continued.
"This is not an aberration; it is part of a well‑documented pattern of impunity enjoyed by Israeli settlers and security forces who routinely attack Palestinians and Palestinian‑Americans under the protection of occupation authorities and indifference of US officials".
The killing of US citizens abroad is more often than not addressed by the highest levels of the US government, including a phone call to the victim's family from the president.
But now, the ADC said, when "the perpetrators are Israeli settlers or security forces, many US citizens themselves, Washington's response is silence, delay, or repeating the lies of Israeli authorities".
"ADC calls on President Donald J. Trump to direct the State Department to open an immediate, American-led investigation into this heinous murder; demand that Israeli authorities arrest and prosecute the perpetrators without delay; and apply standard diplomatic protocol given to any murdered US citizen, including public condemnation of the crime, and regular briefings to Congress until justice is served," the group urged.