US wants Israel to 'crack down' on settler attacks, Rubio says

What Happened

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that the United States wants Israel to do more to deter attacks by settlers in the occupied West Bank. Rubio said the US is "very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing" and has asked the Israelis to "crack down on that stuff," following widespread video of an attack on Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist with The Washington Post. Levine was one of at least two people injured in the Friday incident, in which Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians. Belgium's foreign minister said European diplomats and a French mayor were also attacked in the occupied West Bank. Rubio said the US State Department has inquired about the event and expects to hear back from the US Embassy in Jerusalem by Sunday. Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group, reported at least 170 settler attacks on Palestinians since September 27, around the start of the annual olive harvest.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The attack on an American journalist and European diplomats increases diplomatic pressure on Israel over settler violence in the occupied West Bank, drawing direct US and European attention while the broader Israel–Palestine conflict continues. Rubio's public call signals Washington is willing to press Israel on West Bank settler attacks, even amid ongoing Gaza war diplomacy.

Watch For

US Embassy in Jerusalem response due by Sunday; whether the Israeli government announces or implements measures against settler violence; possible statements from The Washington Post, European governments, or further Yesh Din reporting on attacks during the olive harvest season.