Trump ‘disturbed’ as US photojournalist undergoes surgery after settler attack in West Bank
The attack by Israeli settlers on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine in the West Bank has drawn widespread condemnation, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying President Donald Trump was disturbed by the images of the incident."We're very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing, the President has been very clear, he's said this repeatedly, he does not want to see friction or crisis going on in the West Bank," Rubio told reporters at Joint Base Andrews.US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called for action against those responsible and said Washington had demanded a full investigation into the incident."Heidi Levine, photojournalist for Washington Post suffered serious injuries from vicious & cowardly attack.
Heidi is US Citizen, clear ID as journalist. Details of who under investigation, but those who attacked unarmed reporter should spend YRS in prison. We have called for a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law to whoever participated in this. Attacking a female photographer is despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards.
Dishonourable act of senseless violence," he said.
Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine underwent surgery at Beilinson Hospital on Saturday after being attacked by Jewish rioters during an olive harvest in the Binyamin region of the West Bank on Friday.The Jerusalem Post reported that Levine's condition was moderate and that she had sustained injuries to her limbs.Speaking to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) from her hospital bed, Levine said she was “attacked by a gang of masked settlers”.“They pushed me to the ground and they were kicking me for, I think at least 10 minutes,” she said, adding that she had identified herself as an American journalist.“Hopefully nothing is broken, but I will need stitches in my hand, stitches on my back,” she added.Levine said she did not personally see Israeli military personnel at the scene but saw tear gas and stun grenades being fired, suggesting that Israeli soldiers may have been present.
She also said her bag, camera and phone were stolen during the attack.In a separate incident on Saturday, Israeli settlers attacked European diplomats, Palestinian olive harvesters and a visiting French mayor in the occupied West Bank. Vehicles belonging to diplomats from France, Belgium and Poland were targeted in the Taybeh area.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later said there was a lack of “compelling evidence” regarding the attack on the European diplomats, appearing to suggest that the incident was part of a “coordinated smear campaign”.Settler violence has drawn increasing international criticism as Israel continues to expand settlements in the West Bank, which it captured in 1967. Around 500,000 Israelis live in the territory alongside approximately three million Palestinians. Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank are considered illegal under international law.Despite repeated condemnations by Israeli officials and calls from foreign governments for accountability, prosecutions of settlers accused of violent crimes against Palestinians remain rare.