{
  "id": 15436871,
  "title": "Outrage over attacks on European diplomats and US journalist in West Bank",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/outrage-over-attacks-on-european-diplomats-and-us-journalist-in-west",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-18T15:31:15.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/10/18/outrage-over-attacks-on-european-diplomats-and-us-journalist-in-west-bank/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Anger was mounting on Sunday over violent attacks on European diplomats and a U.S. journalist in the West Bank. European diplomats from France, Belgium, and Poland were among those targeted by masked settlers near the village of Taybeh on Saturday. The day prior, Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine endured severe injuries when she was assaulted by Israeli settlers.\n\nThe European Union demanded \"effective measures\" from Israel to curb the unrest on Sunday. Poland's Foreign Ministry stated that the Taybeh attack, which targeted a Christian village, exemplified the daily hardships faced by Palestinians in the West Bank. \"The attack should be met with a firm response from the Israeli authorities,\" the Polish government declared.\n\nU.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee called for arrests and prosecution of those responsible for the journalist's attack, labeling it a \"despicable act of terror.\" Levine, a U.S. citizen and clear journalist, was reportedly attacked while dozens of masked settlers set fire to shrubs and hurled rocks at Palestinian olive harvesters. She sustained multiple injuries, with photos showing her lying on a trolley with wounds on her leg and knee.\n\nThe Washington Post praised the U.S. ambassador's support for Levine's well-being, emphasizing the importance of press freedoms as a cornerstone of democracies. The attack coincided with growing international concern over heightened Israeli settler violence in the West Bank. European diplomats and a French mayor faced similar assaults by masked individuals on Saturday, with Belgium expressing strong criticism and urging Israel to hold perpetrators accountable.\n\nPolish diplomats in the convoy returned unharmed, with the ministry calling for a thorough investigation and accountability. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot condemned the assault on the French mayor and mayor of his town, urging Israel to cease the violence. Israeli President Isaac Herzog personally apologized to Levine and demanded an investigation. The Israeli military condemned the violence, stating it would be thoroughly investigated. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the circumstances remained unclear, noting that the diplomats' visit had not been coordinated with Israeli security officials. In recent months, Britain, France, Canada, and other nations imposed sanctions targeting Israeli settlements, while the U.S. affirmed it would not participate in those measures.",
  "summary": "Anger was growing on Sunday at Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank after European diplomats and an American journalist were caught up in the unrest. Visitors from France, Belgium and Poland were among those targeted by masked settlers near the village of Taybeh on Saturday. It came a day after Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine suffered serious injuries when she was…",
  "key_points": [
    "European diplomats, US journalist attacked in West Bank",
    "French, Belgian, Polish diplomats targeted in Taybeh",
    "US Ambassador calls for arrests, prosecution of attackers"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "And on your left, smoldering ruins: What you really see on Religious Zionism's West Bank trails",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/and-on-your-left-smoldering-ruins-what-you-really-see-on-religious",
        "published": "2026-10-18T11:07:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "EU strongly condemns West Bank settler attacks on Palestinians, European diplomats",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/eu-strongly-condemns-west-bank-settler-attacks-on-palestinians",
        "published": "2026-10-18T11:26:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "EU condemns West Bank settler attacks targeting diplomats, Palestinians during olive harvest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/eu-condemns-west-bank-settler-attacks-targeting-diplomats",
        "published": "2026-10-18T12:24:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Why have settler pogroms surged during olive harvest season in West Bank?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/why-have-settler-pogroms-surged-during-olive-harvest-season-in-west",
        "published": "2026-10-18T12:35:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "EU 'strongly condemns' settler attack on delegation in West Bank",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/eu-strongly-condemns-settler-attack-on-delegation-in-west-bank",
        "published": "2026-10-18T12:56:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "Huckabee calls for prosecution of journalist's West Bank attackers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/huckabee-calls-for-prosecution-of-journalists-west-bank-attackers",
        "published": "2026-10-18T13:13:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "EU ‘strongly condemns’ settler attack on delegation in West Bank",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/eu-strongly-condemns-settler-attack-on-delegation-in-west-bank-15421637",
        "published": "2026-10-18T13:23:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Outrage over attacks on European diplomats and US journalist in West Bank",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/outrage-over-attacks-on-european-diplomats-and-us-journalist-in-west-15440895",
        "published": "2026-10-18T15:31:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "EU 'strongly condemns' settler attack on delegation in West Bank",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/eu-strongly-condemns-settler-attack-on-delegation-in-west-bank-15452082",
        "published": "2026-10-18T17:08:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "EU 'strongly condemns' settler attack on delegation in West Bank",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/eu-strongly-condemns-settler-attack-on-delegation-in-west-bank-15476192",
        "published": "2026-10-18T19:29:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}