# US ambassador condemns West Bank settler attack on photojournalist > Mike Huckabee calls the beating of Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine a 'despicable act of terror' as she recovers in hospital. - Title: US ambassador condemns West Bank settler attack on… - Summary: Mike Huckabee calls the beating of Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine a 'despicable act of terror' as she recovers in hospital. US ambassador Mike… - Keywords: breaking, heidi levine, mike huckabee, west bank, israel, settler violence, photojournalist, benjamin netanyahu, washington post, isaac herzog, gadi eisenkot, news - Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/18/us-ambassador-israel-mike-huckabee-west-bank-settler-attack-photojournalist-heidi-levine - Published: 2026-10-18T17:02:13+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: breaking, heidi levine, mike huckabee, west bank, israel, settler violence, photojournalist, benjamin netanyahu, washington post, isaac herzog, gadi eisenkot, news ## Photojournalist attacked by settlers Heidi Levine, a sixty-three-year-old Washington Post photographer, was beaten by masked Israeli settlers last Friday while covering an olive harvest in the occupied West Bank. ## Levine's injuries and account Levine suffered broken ribs, hand injuries requiring surgery and other wounds. She said she was beaten for more than ten minutes and her attackers stole her camera, passport and phone. > I was attacked, pushed to the ground. Luckily, I had my flak jacket and helmet, otherwise I probably wouldn't even be here, because they just kept kicking and kicking me. ## Ambassador calls attack terror US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee denounced the assault as a despicable act of terror and called for arrest and prosecution of those responsible. > Attacking a female photographer is despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards. Dishonorable act of senseless violence. ## Netanyahu's ambiguous response Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned violence against anyone but referred to the attack as alleged and said its circumstances remain unclear. ## Levine rejects Netanyahu's language In an interview with the Associated Press on Sunday, Levine said she was shocked and insulted by Netanyahu calling the attack alleged, saying he had all the evidence on the table. ## Support from Israeli officials Israel's president Isaac Herzog called Levine in hospital on Saturday saying the attack was outrageous and shocking. Several top former security and intelligence officials signed a letter expressing shame. ## Levine blames Jewish terrorists Levine blamed Jewish terrorists for the attack and said she had covered the region for over forty years but had never seen the country in such a state as today. > I've been covering this region for over 40 years, and I have never seen this country in such a state as it is today. ## Levine vows to return to work The photojournalist said she was planning to return to work when recovered from her injuries, saying attackers cracked her bones but not her spirit. > I've invested decades of blood, sweat and tears into this. They cracked my bones, they haven't cracked my spirit. ## Settlers attack European diplomats On Saturday, masked settlers attacked European diplomats visiting the West Bank, including Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, who was knocked to the ground while wearing his mayoral sash. ## Baudoux warns of government tolerance Baudoux told Agence France-Presse that if settlers behave this way, there is tolerance on the part of the Israeli government, and the whole world needs to know what is happening. > I think that if settlers are behaving like this, there is a tolerance on the part of the Israeli government. The whole world needs to know what's happening. ## Arrests made and investigations launched Israeli police arrested eight suspects on Monday as part of an investigation into violent incidents in the West Bank over the weekend. France called for arrests and the EU demanded accountability. ## Key takeaway US ambassador Mike Huckabee condemned a West Bank settler attack on American photojournalist Heidi Levine as terror, calling for arrests, while Prime Minister Netanyahu called it alleged.