CHICAGO: Kamel Musallet, the father of a 20-year-old American citizen slain by Israeli settlers on Friday, told Arab News that US officials should treat his son’s killing “the same way they’d treat the murder of any American in any country.”
Sayfollah Musallet was beaten to death by settlers on land the family owns outside the Palestinian village of Al-Mazra’a Ash-Sharqiya in the occupied West Bank.
The family are American citizens of Palestinian heritage who have lived in Port Charlotte, Florida, most of their lives.
Sayfollah Musallet, who was born and raised in Florida, went to see family in Al-Mazra’a Ash-Sharqiya when he was confronted by “gangs of settlers” on their nearby land.
Kamel Musallet said he has only received condolences from “someone” at the US Embassy in Jerusalem, but not from any American officials in the US.
“Where is the concern? My son is an American,” he added, describing him as “a kind person, a good person.”
He said Israeli soldiers prevented family and friends from reaching his son, and medical personnel from treating him.
“He was there, injured, dying, for nearly three hours … The settlers killed him and nothing has been done,” he added.
“Settlers have been going to Palestinian-owned lands randomly attacking any Palestinians they see, trying to steal these lands.
“They’re trying to put tents up on these lands to create new settlements, destroying olive trees and killing farm animals … We’ve asked for protection but have gotten nothing … They’ve been doing this for years.”
He added: “My whole family is American. Who is speaking up in America for our rights, our lives? Where is the outcry from America for an American? We need justice now.”
He said his son had been running an ice cream store that the family opened a year before in Tampa, Florida.
“Sayfollah was such a kind soul, a hard worker. I'm an entrepreneur, so he wanted to be like me … He left a positive impression on everyone he met.”
