Huckabee condemns Israeli settlers’ attack on Washington Post photojournalist

Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, condemned what he called a “vicious” and “cowardly” attack on a Washington Post photojournalist in the West Bank.

The U.S. envoy shared a statement to the social platform X, calling for a full investigation into an attack by a group of Israeli settlers on Palestinians in Israel’s West Bank, which injured Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine.

“Heidi is US Citizen, clear ID as journalist. Details of who under investigation, but those who attacked unarmed reporter should spend YRS in prison,” Huckabee wrote. “We have called for a full investigation, arrest, and prosecution to the fullest extent of the law to whoever participated in this.”

A video shared by the Post showed that Levine was wearing proper identification. In the clip, masked settlers appear to attack Levine, even after she was lying on the ground. Other journalists present came to her aid.

Huckabee has in the past referred to Israeli settlers who commit violence as “terrorists.” In Saturday’s statement, the former Arkansas governor referred to the attack as “an act of terror” and called the settlers “cowards.”

“Attacking a female photographer is despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards. Dishonorable act of senseless violence,” Huckabee wrote.

The attack on Levine was also condemned by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Friday that “those responsible will be held accountable.”

Settler violence is on the rise in Israel’s West Bank, with more than 1,600 attacks reported between January and August, according to the U.N. In September, Senate Democrats attempted to force a report on West Bank violence, but the vote was defeated 47-51. The measure would have stopped U.S. aid to Israel if the Trump administration did not produce a report on violence against U.S. citizens.