Mike Huckabee calls West Bank settler attack on journalist 'terror'

The attack

Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, 63, is currently recovering in a Petah Tikva hospital after being severely beaten in the occupied West Bank last Friday. While covering Palestinian farmers during their annual olive harvest, she was cornered by masked Israeli settlers. Levine reported that she was kicked and beaten for over 10 minutes with clubs and other weapons before her Palestinian colleagues managed to intervene.

Levine, who has worked in the region for 40 years, sustained broken ribs and a hand injury requiring surgery. The attackers also made off with her camera, passport, and phone. She noted that she was only saved by her flak jacket and helmet, stating, “They cracked my bones, they haven’t cracked my spirit.”

A diplomatic ripple

US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee did not mince words, labeling the assault a “despicable act of terror” in a post on X. He has formally called for a full investigation and the prosecution of those involved to the “fullest extent of the law.”

Meanwhile, the vibes are off for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He referred to the attack as “alleged” and suggested the details remain unclear, a stance Levine called “insulting.” Conversely, Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, personally called Levine to express his shame, and various high-level security officials have condemned the violence as “Jewish terrorism.”

The plot thickens

The violence isn't limited to one incident. On Saturday, a group of European diplomats, including the French consul general and the archbishop of Cambrai, were also targeted by masked militants in the West Bank. Bernard Baudoux, the mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, was physically assaulted while wearing his official sash. France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, has demanded that Israel “urgently halt criminal violence.”

Why it matters

With bitter elections approaching on October 27, tensions are highkey surging. These attacks on journalists and foreign dignitaries highlight a trend of settlers disrupting the olive harvest, a move critics say is fueled by the current political climate. Real talk: according to the rights group Yesh Din, 94% of investigations into settler violence since 2005 have ended without an indictment, leaving many to wonder if this time will be any different.