The US ambassador asks Israel for "years in prison" for the settlers who attacked the photojournalist in Ramallah

The United States ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has stated that the settler mob that brutally beat Heidi Levine, an American photographer for the Washington Post, on Friday should be punished with "years in prison" and reported that they have asked for a "full investigation" to be opened. "Those who attacked an unarmed reporter should be punished with years in prison. We have called for a full investigation, arrest and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law of whoever participated in this. Attacking a female photographer is a despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards," Huckabee wrote on his X account.

The US ambassador also stressed that Levine was wearing "clear identification as a journalist" - a vest and helmet, specifically - and that "he suffered serious injuries from a ruthless and cowardly attack."

The American newspaper thanked the ambassador's call "for a thorough investigation and accountability", as well as the words of support from Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who called the photojournalist and regretted what had happened. "We continue to urge Israeli authorities to conduct a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation, hold perpetrators accountable, and reaffirm their commitment to protecting press freedom and the safety of journalists," The Washington Post said in a message published on X and signed by its editor and CEO, Jeff D'Onofrio.

The photojournalist was covering the Palestinian olive harvest in the municipality of Abu Falah (ramallah governorate) when a group of masked Israeli settlers burst into the area, attacking the local population and brutally attacking them as well, even when they were on the ground. Levine was hospitalized and had to undergo surgery on her left hand.

Documented event

The event, like most of the Israeli settler attacks that occur daily against Palestinians in the West Bank, was documented with photographs and videos from different positions, but the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as an "alleged" attack.

On a regular basis, and even more so during these weeks in which Palestinians in the occupied West Bank try to harvest their olive trees, settlers in the settlements seek to prevent them from reaching their lands through intimidation, violence or burning their vehicles, often with the support of the Israeli army.

Israeli settlers in the West Bank have been involved in at least 170 attacks against Palestinians since September 27, a date that roughly coincides with the start of the annual olive harvest, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli organization that monitors this issue.

Israel does not usually arrest settlers (sometimes in uniform and on duty) who attack or kill Palestinians and an investigation almost never ends in a formal accusation, which is why various NGOs denounce a climate of "total impunity" in the occupied West Bank.