US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned an Israeli settler attack on an American photojournalist in the occupied West Bank, demanding a full investigation, arrests and prosecution of those responsible.
Heidi Levine of The Washington Post suffered serious injuries when she was attacked by Israeli settlers on Friday morning, said the newspaper’s executive editor, Matt Murray.
“Attacking a female photographer is despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards,” Mr Huckabee said in a post on X early on Sunday. “Dishonourable act of senseless violence.”
The US envoy said Ms Levine had been clearly identified as a journalist and was unarmed. He called for those involved to spend years in prison and demanded prosecution “to the fullest extent of the law”.
The Washington Post said Ms Levine was attacked when "dozens of masked settlers” set fire to shrubs and threw rocks in a “co-ordinated assault” on Palestinian olive harvesters.
“She was knocked to the ground, kicked repeatedly and stripped of her cameras and phone,” the paper said.
Ms Levine was later taken to hospital in Ramallah, where she was pictured lying on a trolley with a wound dressing on her left leg and a gash on her right knee, among other injuries.
Heidi Levine, photojournalist for @wapo 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…
— Ambassador Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) October 17, 2026
The attack came amid renewed international concern over Israeli settler violence in the West Bank, where a separate incident on Saturday involved European diplomats and a French mayor, according to statements from European officials.
Poland’s Foreign Ministry said preliminary evidence indicated Israeli settlers were responsible for an attack on a group of European diplomats. Polish diplomats travelling in the convoy were unharmed, and there was no indication they had been specifically targeted, the ministry said.
“We expect the Israeli authorities to provide urgent and detailed explanations, identify those responsible and ensure that they are held accountable,” the ministry said. “We also expect effective measures to be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the mayor of a French town had also been assaulted by what he described as “extremist settlers” during Saturday’s incident. He called on Israeli authorities to stop the violence.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog telephoned Ms Levine to apologise for the attack and urged an investigation. The Israeli military described the violence as intolerable and said the incidents would be investigated.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the circumstances remained unclear and more evidence was needed before responsibility could be established. It also noted that the diplomats’ visit had not been coordinated with Israeli security officials.
The incidents come as settler violence has intensified in the occupied territory. Britain, France, Canada and other countries announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements last month, while the US said it would not join those measures.