October 18, 2026
Quick Answer: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday he is "very disturbed" by footage of Israeli settler violence in the West Bank and has asked Israel to crack down on the attacks. The public push follows Friday's assault on American photojournalist Heidi Levine and the separate attacks on European diplomats, officials said.
Rubio Urges Israel to Crack Down on Settler Violence
The United States wants Israel to do more to deter attacks committed by settlers in the West Bank, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday, delivering one of Washington's bluntest public rebukes of settler violence in recent weeks.
"We're very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing," Rubio told reporters. "We've asked the Israelis and continue to ask them to crack down on that stuff."
His remarks escalated the pressure the Trump administration is putting on Israel over a surge of attacks hitting Palestinians, journalists, and now Western diplomats. The comments came just as Belgium's foreign minister detailed the separate attack on European diplomats.
The Friday Attack on Photojournalist Heidi Levine
Rubio's comments followed the widespread circulation of video showing multiple individuals attacking Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist with the Washington Post. Levine was one of at least two people injured in the Friday incident, which took place as Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians, according to Reuters.
The footage moved quickly through diplomatic circles. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee separately called the assault on the American photographer an "act of terror" and urged prosecution, as GlobalDeskNews reported.
Rubio said the State Department has already inquired about the attack. Speaking before boarding a flight to Uzbekistan, he said he expects to hear back from the US Embassy in Jerusalem by Sunday.
European Diplomats Attacked in a Second Incident
In a separate incident, masked settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank attacked Palestinians, Catholic representatives, and Western diplomats and officials, Belgium's foreign minister said on Saturday.
Maxime Prévot said the Belgian consul general, French and Polish diplomats, and a French mayor were among those attacked, while a Belgian vehicle was damaged.
"Harvesting olives, reporting the news or carrying out diplomatic duties should never put anyone at risk of attack," Prévot said, as quoted by Reuters. Belgium will press for sanctions against those responsible and those who support them, he added.
The Israeli military, the European Commission, and the French and Polish foreign ministries did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
GlobalDeskNews reported the Taybeh attack on Saturday.
A Surge of Attacks During the Olive Harvest
The latest violence is part of a far wider pattern. Israeli settlers in the West Bank have been involved in at least 170 attacks on Palestinians since September 27, around the start of the annual olive harvest, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group.
The olive harvest is the West Bank's most important agricultural season and a long-standing flashpoint: farmers working groves near settlements face intimidation and assault. Yesh Din's tally points to an intense season of attacks.
Why It Matters
Rubio's statement matters for three reasons: it puts the secretary of state on record pressing a close ally; it ties Washington's concern to an American citizen's safety; and it arrives alongside a European sanctions push, so Israel faces pressure from both sides of the Atlantic.
For Israel's government, the timing is uncomfortable. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment on the diplomat attack.
What Happens Next
Rubio said he expects a report from the US Embassy in Jerusalem by Sunday. That briefing could determine whether Washington's pressure stays rhetorical or turns into concrete action.
Belgium's sanctions push adds a second track. For now, the test is practical: whether the coming days of the harvest pass without another attack.
Key Takeaways
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly urged Israel to "crack down" on settler violence in the West Bank, saying Washington is "very disturbed" by the footage.
- The trigger was Friday's attack on American photojournalist Heidi Levine, one of at least two people injured as settlers attacked Palestinian civilians.
- Belgium's foreign minister said masked settlers also attacked the Belgian consul general, French and Polish diplomats, a French mayor, and Catholic representatives; Belgium will press for sanctions.
- Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group, counts at least 170 settler attacks on Palestinians since September 27, around the start of the olive harvest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Marco Rubio say about settler violence in the West Bank?
On Saturday, Rubio said the United States wants Israel to do more to deter settler attacks in the West Bank. "We're very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing," he told reporters. "We've asked the Israelis and continue to ask them to crack down on that stuff."
What happened to photojournalist Heidi Levine?
Widely shared video showed multiple individuals attacking Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist with the Washington Post, during Friday's West Bank violence. Reuters reports she was one of at least two injured as settlers attacked Palestinian civilians. The US State Department has inquired about the incident.
Which diplomats were attacked in the West Bank?
Belgium's foreign minister Maxime Prévot said masked settlers attacked Palestinians, Catholic representatives, and Western diplomats and officials in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The Belgian consul general, French and Polish diplomats, and a French mayor were among those attacked in the occupied territory.
How many settler attacks have occurred since the olive harvest began?
Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group, says Israeli settlers carried out at least 170 attacks on Palestinians since September 27, around the start of the annual olive harvest.
What action is Belgium seeking?
Maxime Prévot said on Saturday that Belgium will press for sanctions against those responsible for the violence and those who support them. "Harvesting olives, reporting the news or carrying out diplomatic duties should never put anyone at risk of attack," he said.
What happens next in the US-Israel dispute over settler violence?
Rubio expects a report from the US Embassy in Jerusalem by Sunday after the State Department inquired about the attack. Belgium's push for European sanctions against those responsible could add further diplomatic pressure on Israel in the coming days.
Sources
- Reuters — "US wants Israel to 'crack down' on settler violence in West Bank, Rubio says" (October 17, 2026): reuters.com
- Reuters — "West Bank settlers attack Palestinians, Western diplomats, Belgium says" (October 17, 2026): reuters.com
- The Times of Israel — "Rubio says he is 'very disturbed' by scenes of settler violence in West Bank, urges Israeli crackdown" (October 17, 2026): timesofisrael.com