US officials demand Israel act after West Bank attack on American photojournalist

In October 2026, US officials called on Israel to prosecute those responsible for an attack on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine in the West Bank. US ambassador Mike Huckabee condemned the attack as "despicable" and demanded arrests, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US wants Israel to "crack down" on settler violence. Israeli President Isaac Herzog apologized to Levine, who underwent surgery after the attack.

The Washington Post denied claims by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the incident, and Levine criticized Netanyahu after surgery on a nearly detached finger. US officials described the attack as an "act of terror" and urged Israel to punish those involved.