US ‘very disturbed’ following series of violent settler confrontations with Palestinians

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the administration of President Donald Trump is “very disturbed” at what it is seeing in Judea and Samaria in recent weeks. 

Rubio further stated that they have asked Israel to crack down on incidents of nationalist violence in the disputed territories. 

“We’re very disturbed by those images and what we’re seeing,” Secretary Rubio stated in reaction to a question by a reporter about the attack on Washington Post journalist Heidi Levine in the Palestinian town of Abu Falah, near Ramallah on Friday. 

“We’ve asked the Israelis and continue to ask them to crack down on that stuff,” Rubio added. 

Rubio said that President Trump “has been very clear” that he doesn’t want to see an escalation in the disputed territories amid rising incidents of nationalistic violence over the past few weeks. 

🇺🇸🇮🇱 “Not a good look” — Secretary of State Marco Rubio described footage of an Israeli settler attack on American photojournalist Heidi Levine in the occupied West Bank as “disturbing” https://t.co/x7SrfSQPA8

— HOT SPOT (@HotSpotHotSpot) October 18, 2026

In a statement posted to his personal social media account, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the incident involving Levine a “vicious & cowardly attack.” 

Noting that Levine is a U.S. citizen, who was clearly marked as a member of the press, Huckabee stated that “those who attacked unarmed reporter should spend years in prison.” 

”We have called for a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law to whoever participated in this,” he added. 

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Prevot condemned the attack the next day on a group of European diplomats traveling near the Palestinian Christian town of Taybeh. 

“I condemn in the strongest terms the attack by masked settlers in Taybeh, in the occupied West Bank, against Palestinians, our Consul General, French and Polish diplomats as well as catholic representatives,” Prevot wrote to his social media account. “A French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle damaged. Our team is safe.” 

“Palestinians face this violence every day.” Prevot claimed, adding, “Settlers also target journalists reporting on it and diplomats. Harvesting olives, reporting the news or carrying out diplomatic duties should never put anyone at risk of attack.” 

🇵🇸 I condemn in the strongest terms the attack by masked settlers in Taybeh, in the occupied West Bank, against Palestinians, our Consul General, French and Polish diplomats as well as catholic representatives. A French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle damaged. Our team is safe. Palestinians face this violence every day. Settlers also target journalists reporting on it and diplomats. Harvesting olives, reporting the news or carrying out diplomatic duties should never put anyone at risk of attack. As the occupying power, Israeli authorities must protect Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists, and bring those responsible to justice. Impunity for violent settlers must end. Belgium will continue to press for EU sanctions against those responsible for this violence and those who support them. This violence cannot be separated from Israel’s illegal settlement policy. Belgium condemns settlement expansion and attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land. The occupation of the Palestinian territory must end. @BelgiumMFA @BelgiumJRS

— Maxime PREVOT (@prevotmaxime) October 17, 2026

Prevot also alleged that “This violence cannot be separated from Israel’s illegal settlement policy.” 

French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot also condemned the attacks, saying, “The Israeli authorities must imperatively arrest those responsible for these outrageous acts and bring them to justice.” 

“They must urgently put an end to these criminal acts of violence and ensure the safety of civilian populations, as they are obligated to do under international law,” Barrot added. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, urged caution after reports of the attack on the European diplomats and the attack on Heidi Levine. 

In a statement on the official Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) account, Netanyahu called it the “alleged attack on European diplomats,” while saying that “serious accusations require serious evidence.” 

“We urge caution before drawing conclusions from today's reports that European diplomats were attacked by masked Israelis in Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu posted Saturday evening. “Any violence against diplomats is unacceptable. The more serious the accusation, the greater the demand for compelling evidence.” 

The Prime Minister's Office: ALLEGED ATTACK ON EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS: SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS REQUIRE SERIOUS EVIDENCE. We urge caution before drawing conclusions from today's reports that European diplomats were attacked by masked Israelis in Judea and Samaria. Any violence against diplomats is unacceptable. The more serious the accusation, the greater the demand for compelling evidence. Here is what we know: - The diplomatic delegation entered a sensitive area with a history of confrontations without prior coordination with the IDF, as officially confirmed by the military. Such coordination is essential to protecting visiting diplomats and preventing violence. - The visit included Bernard Baudoux, a French Communist Party mayor who previously raised the Palestinian flag over his municipal building, prompting French authorities to order its removal. - Published footage shows masked individuals confronting a diplomatic vehicle. Separate images show a smashed window and a person lying on the ground. These images alone do not establish the complete sequence of events or individual responsibility. Those circumstances remain under investigation. - Israeli police and forensic investigators have launched an investigation to establish the facts and identify those responsible. These reports come amid concerns about a coordinated campaign to smear Israel and the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria during the annual olive harvest, relying on sensational headlines before the full facts emerge. We may see further allegations in the coming days. By the time the evidence is fully examined, the reputational damage from premature conclusions may already be done. We call on the public and responsible journalists to demand verifiable evidence, reject hearsay, and refuse to turn unproven allegations into a collective indictment of the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria.

— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) October 17, 2026

“These reports come amid concerns about a coordinated campaign to smear Israel and the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria during the annual olive harvest, relying on sensational headlines before the full facts emerge,” the prime minister added. 

That post came after a similar one the previous day, in which Netanyahu reacted to the incident in which Washington Post journalist Heidi Levine was seriously injured. 

“The facts surrounding the confrontation near Abu Falah, during which Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was allegedly assaulted, remain unclear and are under investigation,” Netanyahu’s office stated, adding that, “Israel unequivocally condemns violence against anyone—Jews, Arabs, Christians or journalists. Those responsible will be held accountable.” 

In that post, the prime minister noted the presence of “masked individuals on both sides hurling objects, amid reports of fireworks fired at Jewish youths.” 

“The facts must determine the conclusions. Not the headlines,” the statement by the PMO concluded. 

Netanyahu also claimed that “Other footage appears to show Levine knocked down and immediately helped to her feet by the same unidentified individual.” 

A longer segment of video shows Levine being pushed to ground and hit, with several of her personal items being removed, apparently by the Jewish assailants. 

Levine herself is later seen being helped to her feet by a colleague, while stating, “They took everything.” 

In that video, none of her camera equipment remains. Shortly after standing, she and her colleagues are again assaulted by masked individuals, apparently Jewish, throwing stones in their direction. 

This video captures settlers beating Heidi. They clubbed her, kicked her. Pulled her up off the ground to beat her more. Robbed her of all her equipment. If she didn’t have a helmet—and if she was Palestinian—she could be dead. https://t.co/hKV5coFvaD

— jasper nathaniel (@infinite_jaz) October 16, 2026

President Isaac Herzog called Levine and personally apologized for incident. 

“As President of the State of Israel, I strongly condemn this outrageous and shocking violence, both the terrible attack you endured and other grave incidents of violence, such as what took place today in Taybeh. This weighed heavily on my conscience throughout Shabbat, and I express my deep sorrow and apologize for what you went through,” Herzog told Levine, according to a readout of the call provided by his office. 

“The despicable behavior of the perpetrators of this attack does not represent the citizens or the values of the State of Israel,” Herzog added. 

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also condemned the violent incidents involving “Israeli rioters.” 

“I strongly condemn the severe acts of violence by Israeli rioters in the area of Taybeh,” Sa’ar wrote on social media, noting that a police investigation had been opened into the incidents. 

“The Foreign Ministry is in contact with the ambassadors of the countries concerned in order to assist the law enforcement authorities, who are working to identify the attackers and bring them to justice,” Sa’ar continued, while also encouraging diplomatic missions to pre-arrange visits with the IDF. 

I strongly condemn the severe acts of violence by Israeli rioters in the area of Taybeh. A police investigation has been opened, and forensic investigators from the Judea and Samaria District are already at the scene collecting evidence. The Foreign Ministry is in contact with the ambassadors of the countries concerned in order to assist the law enforcement authorities, who are working to identify the attackers and bring them to justice. Without detracting from the severity of the incident, it is unfortunate that the visit was not coordinated with the IDF in advance. Such coordination could have helped safeguard the visitors’ security.

— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) October 17, 2026

Prime Minister hopeful and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot criticized Netanyahu’s coalition government for the violence in the disputed territories. 

“What is happening in Judea and Samaria is Jewish terror under the auspices of the Israeli government,” Eisenkot wrote to his personal social media account. “Once again, within a single day, squads of violent lawbreakers attack foreign citizens—and this time, diplomats and official officeholders.” 

Eisenkot claimed that “A handful of criminals is burning up the last shreds of legitimacy left to the State of Israel, endangering security forces, and harming the settlement enterprise in Judea and Samaria and national security.” 

Meanwhile, Yesha Council head Yisrael Ganz said that Palestinian “provocateurs” are partially responsible for the violence in the territories. 

““In the last two days, groups of provocateurs and terrorists are sowing chaos using the olive harvest as an excuse,” Ganz stated. 

“In many situations they are the actual aggressors, go wild, and harm Israelis,” Ganz continued. 

Several settler leaders posted videos on Saturday evening which appeared to show masked Palestinians arriving to the scene of the olive harvests carrying slingshots and stones, hours before the violent incident in which Levine was harmed on Friday. 

However, Ganz also acknowledged Jewish violence, saying that “Israelis using violence play into their hands and harm people, the settlements, and the state.” 

He urged Israel Police to “take responsibility” for stopping the violence.