Full Breakdown
U.S. Citizens Attacked by Israeli Settlers in West Bank
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident Overview
During a Thursday-Friday span in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, two American citizens were violently assaulted by Israeli settlers. Veteran Washington Post journalist Heidi Levine, wearing a vest marked “PRESS,” was knocked to the ground, repeatedly kicked, and stripped of her camera and phone while covering the area. She later recounted that she had just returned from a three-week assignment in Ukraine. The following day, Haitham Taysir, a U.S. citizen working in his family’s olive groves in Burqa, Ramallah, was severely beaten. Independent journalist Jasper Nathaniel documented the attacks and posted video of Levine receiving medical treatment.
Background on Settler Violence
The incident occurs amid a reported surge in settler-related attacks. The article notes that more than 700,000 Israeli settlers are residing illegally in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and that incidents of settler violence have reached record-high levels in recent months.
Official U.S. Response
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, whose diplomatic portfolio includes the protection of American citizens abroad, has not issued a public comment on either assault. While he has previously condemned Israeli settler violence, his silence on these recent attacks has drawn attention from observers and advocacy groups.
Criticism of U.S. Policy
Commentators have linked the attacks to broader U.S. support for settlement activity. Former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan argued that the violence reflects a pattern of U.S. funding and protection of settlers, emphasizing the danger to American journalists and civilians.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I just got back actually two days ago from three weeks in Ukraine,” — Heidi Levine, washington post journalist
- “An American citizen, Haytham Taysir, was just severely beaten by settlers in his olive groves in Burqa, Ramallah,” — Jasper Nathaniel, independent journalist
- “The [Israel Defense Forces] provided cover, with tear gas and machine guns, while the settlers beat Washington Post journalist Heidi Levine nearly to death,” — Jasper Nathaniel, independent journalist
- “Israeli settlers, funded and protected by the United States, attacked this female American journalist in her sixties,” — Mehdi Hasan