Trump ‘disturbed’ as US photojournalist undergoes surgery after settler attack in West Bank
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called for action against those responsible and said Washington had demanded a full investigation into the incident. Dishonourable act of senseless violence,” he said. 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”.
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. “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. Vehicles belonging to diplomats from France, Belgium and Poland were targeted in the Taybeh area.
In a separate incident on Saturday, Israeli settlers attacked European diplomats, Palestinian olive harvesters and a visiting French mayor in the occupied West Bank.