US Ambassador Condemns West Bank Settler Attack
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee denounced the attack on a photojournalist in the West Bank as a "despicable act of terror" and called for prosecution.
What happened
- US Ambassador Mike Huckabee condemned the attack on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, who was beaten by masked Israeli settlers while photographing olive harvesters in the West Bank.
- Levine, who sustained injuries including broken ribs and a hand injury, described the attack as lasting over 10 minutes and stated she felt "shocked and insulted" by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s characterization of the event as "alleged."
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog and several former Israeli security officials expressed shame over the attack and offered condemnation.
- The attack occurred during the annual olive harvest, a period marked by increased violence by settlers, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group.
- Marco Rubio issued a demand for Israel to crack down on the violence.
- Bernard Baudoux, the mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, was also attacked while visiting the occupied West Bank.
- The incident prompted calls for accountability and an end to impunity for settlers involved in violence against Palestinians and foreign diplomats.
- The attacks have drawn international condemnation, particularly from Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot, who emphasized Israel’s responsibility to protect Palestinians and diplomats.
Original reporting
- Guardian: US ambassador to Israel calls West Bank settler attack on American photojournalist ‘terror’
2026-10-18T00:00:00+00:00 - PBS NewsHour: Photographer attacked by settlers in the West Bank feels insulted by Netanyahu
2026-10-18T17:13:24+00:00 - GB News: Marco Rubio issues demand to Israel over 'disturbing' settler violence in West Bank
2026-10-18T00:24:20+00:00