An American citizen was beaten to death by Israeli settlers, and his father was attacked by settlers when he tried to visit the spot where his son died — a grim sign of how little protection Palestinian-American families have in the West Bank.

• The father's attempt to reach the site of his son's killing ended in an ambush on the road.
• Four settlers blocked the car with clubs and rocks, and one tried to slash the tires with a knife.
• The attackers struck the vehicle while the people inside tried to drive away.
• A call to the Israeli military brought no protection — the soldiers focused on the victims instead of the attackers.

Outlook: With settler violence going unpunished and soldiers siding with the attackers, more of these confrontations are likely, including ones involving American citizens.