This is a developing story and a follow-up to our earlier report, Heidi Levine Attacked: WaPo Photographer Beaten in West Bank. The new development is US Ambassador Mike Huckabee's statement on Saturday, October 17, demanding prosecution of the attackers.
Quick Answer: US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Saturday called the beating of Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine in the West Bank a "despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards" and demanded Israel prosecute and jail the attackers. The X post struck a far stronger tone than Washington's earlier response — though Huckabee stopped short of naming settlers after Netanyahu cast doubt on their identity.
United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has demanded that Israel prosecute and imprison the people behind a brutal assault on an American photojournalist in the occupied West Bank, calling the attack a "despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards."
Huckabee issued the demand on Saturday in a post on X, taking a markedly stronger tone than an earlier, more cautious statement from Washington. The ambassador said he had "called for a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law to whoever participated in this."
The assault targeted Heidi Levine, a veteran photographer on assignment for The Washington Post, who was covering the annual Palestinian olive harvest on Friday in the village of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah. According to witnesses, Israeli settlers stormed the area, beat her and stole her passport, telephone, wallet and equipment.
What Huckabee said about the "act of terror" on the photographer
"Attacking a female photographer is a despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards," Huckabee wrote on X on Saturday, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. "Those who attacked unarmed reporter should spend YRS in prison," he added. "We have called for a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law to whoever participated in this."
The ambassador, appointed by US President Donald Trump, has previously taken a strong line on settler violence. Yet Huckabee — described by both outlets as a staunch ally of Israel who has sharply criticised settler attacks against Americans — did not identify the culprits as settlers, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to sow doubt as to their identity.
That careful wording matters. The US State Department on Friday had taken a cautious tone on Levine's beating, saying only that it condemns "criminal violence by any party." Huckabee's Saturday statement went much further, even as it left the question of who carried out the attack to investigators.
How the attack on Heidi Levine unfolded
Levine, 64, was photographing Palestinian farmers during their olive harvest on Friday when the attackers struck. Daily Sabah reported that dozens of militant Israeli settlers, clad in black with their faces masked, burned olive trees and threw rocks at Palestinians in what it described as a coordinated attack on the village's harvest — an assault that injured at least two people, including Levine.
Levine herself described the ordeal to Al Jazeera's reporting: the perpetrators, armed with bottles and slingshots, "were kicking me for like 10 minutes, and I was trying to hold onto my cameras and my bag." Jasper Nathaniel, an independent journalist who witnessed the attack, told Al Jazeera that Levine "was in very, very bad shape. She couldn't really get up off the ground."
Her injuries were severe. The American photojournalist underwent surgery on a finger that was nearly detached from her hand, and was left with a broken rib and multiple broken vertebrae, as well as lacerations, her daughter told The Associated Press. Arab News reported she was taken to hospital with broken vertebrae and was listed on Saturday as being in moderate condition.
Netanyahu's response and the October 27 elections
Netanyahu, who wants to shore up his pro-settlement right-wing base ahead of closely fought October 27 elections, claimed on Friday that Palestinians or "far-left" activists may have been responsible for the attack on Levine and other Palestinians, according to both Al Jazeera and AFP.
That claim drew pushback. Netanyahu's main rival in the elections, Gadi Eisenkot, also called the assault "Jewish terror" — the same term Levine herself used when speaking to The Associated Press on Saturday from her hospital bed. "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 said, adding that she was "shocked and insulted" that Netanyahu referred to the attack on her and others as an alleged one.
Netanyahu has in the past attributed settler violence to a small number of troublemakers. But as Daily Sabah noted, cars have been burned, trees damaged and people hurt in communities across the Palestinian territory, with some people calling this the most dangerous season yet.
Why it matters
An American ambassador publicly branding violence by Israeli settlers an "act of terror" — and demanding prosecutions — is a rare and sharp escalation in US rhetoric. Huckabee is a longtime, outspoken ally of Israel; his criticism carries weight precisely because it doesn't come from the usual critics. In August, he called a days-long Israeli settler siege an "act of terror," and in September he met Palestinian-Americans in the West Bank town of Turmus Aya to hear testimony about what locals described as pogroms.
The timing is delicate. With Israeli elections set for October 27, Netanyahu is courting the pro-settlement right — the same constituency whose support he needs and whose violent fringe stands accused in this attack. Washington pressing for arrests and jail time puts that balancing act under a harsh light, and it comes amid a wave of settler violence that also saw European diplomats attacked near Taybeh, another incident that drew international condemnation.
Beyond the politics, the case has become a test of whether attacks on journalists in the West Bank will be treated as the serious crimes Huckabee says they are — or dismissed as disputed incidents. Levine's four decades of covering the region, and her willingness to speak from her hospital bed, have made that harder to ignore.
What happens next
All eyes are now on Israel's law enforcement: whether the "full investigation, arrest, and prosecution" Huckabee demanded actually materialises, and whether anyone is charged. Netanyahu's government faces competing pressures — a US ambassador demanding jail time for the attackers, and a pro-settlement base that bristles at any crackdown.
The October 27 elections will shape what follows. A government dependent on settler support may drag its feet; a stronger international response — Washington has already gone further than its initial cautious statement — could force its hand. Levine's recovery, and any legal proceedings, will be watched closely by press-freedom advocates.
Key Takeaways
- US Ambassador Mike Huckabee on Saturday called the beating of WaPo photographer Heidi Levine a "despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards."
- Huckabee demanded Israel prosecute and jail the attackers, calling for "a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law."
- He did not name settlers as the culprits after Netanyahu suggested Palestinians or "far-left" activists may have been responsible.
- Levine, 64, suffered a broken rib, multiple broken vertebrae and a nearly detached finger in Friday's attack in Abu Falah; she was in moderate condition Saturday.
- Netanyahu's rival Gadi Eisenkot also called the assault "Jewish terror," as Israel heads toward October 27 elections.
- The statement marks a sharp escalation from the State Department's cautious Friday condemnation of "criminal violence by any party."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Heidi Levine?
Heidi Levine, 64, is a veteran American photojournalist on assignment for The Washington Post. She has covered the region for over 40 years. On Friday she was photographing Palestinian farmers during the annual olive harvest in Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah, when she was brutally beaten. She suffered a broken rib, multiple broken vertebrae and a nearly detached finger requiring surgery, and spoke to the AP from her hospital bed on Saturday.
What did Mike Huckabee say about the attack?
On Saturday, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee wrote on X: "Attacking a female photographer is a despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards." He demanded Israel prosecute and jail the assailants, calling for "a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law to whoever participated in this." He added that those who attacked the unarmed reporter should spend years in prison.
Why didn't Huckabee blame the settlers directly?
Although witnesses say Israeli settlers carried out the attack, Huckabee did not identify the culprits as settlers. Both Al Jazeera and AFP note he held back after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to sow doubt about the attackers' identity, suggesting Palestinians or "far-left" activists may have been responsible. Huckabee said the details of who is under investigation, but insisted the attackers should face prison.
How did Netanyahu respond to the attack?
Netanyahu, seeking to shore up his pro-settlement right-wing base ahead of the closely fought October 27 elections, claimed on Friday that Palestinians or "far-left" activists may have been responsible for the attack. Levine said she was "shocked and insulted" that he referred to the attack as an alleged one. His election rival Gadi Eisenkot, by contrast, called it "Jewish terror."
What was Washington's initial response?
On Friday, the US State Department took a cautious tone, saying only that it condemns "criminal violence by any party" — without naming the attackers or calling for prosecutions. Huckabee's Saturday statement went significantly further, branding the assault an "act of terror" and explicitly demanding arrests, prosecution and jail time.
Has anyone been arrested for the attack?
As of Saturday, no arrests had been publicly announced. Huckabee has demanded "a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law." Whether Israeli authorities act on that demand — and how quickly — is now the central question, with the October 27 elections adding political pressure on Netanyahu's government.
Is this part of a wider pattern of West Bank violence?
Yes. The attack came during the olive harvest season, which settlers have repeatedly disrupted, and also saw European diplomats attacked by settlers near Taybeh. Daily Sabah reported that cars have been burned, trees damaged and people hurt across the Palestinian territory, with some calling this the most dangerous season yet. Settlements in the occupied West Bank are illegal under international law, a position upheld by the United Nations.
Sources
- Arab News (AFP wire) — US ambassador urges Israel to prosecute over 'act of terror' against American photographer (published October 17, 2026)
- Al Jazeera — US ambassador urges Israel to prosecute attackers of American journalist (published October 17, 2026)
- Daily Sabah — US envoy urges Israel to punish settler terrorism against journalist (published October 17, 2026)
Related on GlobalDeskNews: Heidi Levine Attacked: WaPo Photographer Beaten in West Bank (the original attack, October 16) · Settlers Attack European Diplomats in Taybeh, West Bank (October 17)