U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee urged a full investigation and called for arrests and prosecution after Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was injured during a West Bank olive harvest.
The Associated Press reported Levine was seriously injured Friday in Abu Falah and remained in a Tel Aviv hospital after surgery on her hand. She also had broken ribs and other injuries. Levine said she was beaten for more than 10 minutes and that her camera, passport and phone were taken. Several Palestinians were hurt in the same assault.
In a Saturday post on X, Huckabee called the attack “a despicable act of terror” and pressed for authorities to investigate fully and prosecute those involved. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned violence generally, referred to the assault as alleged and said its circumstances were still unclear, AP reported.
Israel Police said it had opened an investigation. The Israeli military said police and forensic teams would collect evidence and statements, as described in earlier coverage of the olive-harvest assault. Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group, says about 94% of settler-violence investigations since 2005 ended without an indictment; full or partial convictions followed in 3%.
AP reported settler violence had increased during 2026 and risen further in recent weeks. It also said Israel rarely investigates such violence fully. Israel plans to hold elections Oct. 27, AP reported.
In a separate incident Sunday, a Saudi helicopter crashed near Najran, killing both pilots. Coalition spokesman Maj. Gen. Turki al-Maliki said a technical malfunction caused the crash. The Houthis had claimed they brought down the helicopter, AP reported.
The Saudi-led coalition is trying to contain the Houthis. The AP linked Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia to Riyadh’s support for the internationally recognized government in Yemen’s civil war.
Two projectiles struck a tugboat in the Gulf of Oman off the United Arab Emirates early Sunday, injuring one person, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. The agency said the tug remained underway despite damage. It did not identify the vessel, and no group had claimed the attack. AP placed the strike south of the Strait of Hormuz and noted that shipping in the area had faced disruptions in recent months.
