Trump ‘disturbed’ by Israeli settler attack on US journalist in West Bank, Rubio demands crackdown against perpetrators

New Delhi: The United States has urged Israel to take stronger action against settler violence in the occupied West Bank after American journalist Heidi Levine was injured in an attack. The secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said the United States president, Donald Trump, was disturbed by footage of the incident.

“We’ve asked the Israelis and continue to ask them to crack down on that stuff,” Rubio told reporters on Saturday. He added that the US had sought details of the incident and expected an update from its embassy in Jerusalem.

The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, also reacted and described the attack as “senseless violence” and called for a full investigation, the arrest of those involved and their prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. He said Levine was an American citizen clearly identified as a journalist and that those who attacked an unarmed reporter should spend years in prison.

The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, also condemned the attack and apologised to Levine during a phone call. He said the violence did not represent Israel’s citizens or values and called for those responsible to be brought to justice.

As RNA earlier reported, Levine was attacked by masked Israeli settlers on Friday while covering the annual olive harvest in the Binyamin region of the West Bank. The veteran Washington Post photojournalist was wearing protective gear identifying her as a member of the press when she was allegedly knocked to the ground, kicked repeatedly and robbed of her camera, bag and phone.

Levine underwent surgery at Beilinson Hospital on Saturday, with her condition described as moderate. She sustained injuries to her limbs.

Speaking to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) from her hospital bed, Levine said the attackers continued beating her despite her identifying herself as an American journalist. “They pushed me to the ground and they were kicking me for, I think at least 10 minutes,” she said.

She added that she expected to need stitches in her hand and back. Levine also said she did not personally see Israeli soldiers at the scene, although she saw tear gas and stun grenades being fired.

The attack has raised further concerns about the safety of journalists covering violence in the West Bank. CPJ regional director, Sara Qudah, said the incident was part of a wider pattern of violence and harassment targeting journalists, regardless of their nationality.

CPJ said it had reviewed at least 16 incidents involving at least 35 local and international journalists in the West Bank in 2026. The incidents included physical assaults, harassment, obstruction and intimidation.

Settler violence against Palestinians has also continued during the olive harvest season.