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Israeli police have arrested at least 10 suspects over weekend attacks on a Washington Post photojournalist and a group of European diplomats in the occupied West Bank, amid growing US pressure on Israel to curb settler violence.
Police said the arrests were made during an operation dubbed “Olive Leaf”, as Israeli security forces searched areas where the attacks took place. Authorities also seized evidence and confiscated several vehicles allegedly linked to the incidents.
Veteran Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was attacked and hospitalised on Friday while travelling with Palestinians at the start of the olive harvest. On Saturday, settlers attacked a group of European diplomats visiting Taybeh, a Palestinian Christian town.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee welcomed the arrests, describing them as a “very positive development” in efforts to identify and punish those responsible for the assault on Levine.
Israeli police said investigators were collecting evidence and witness statements to build cases against those involved.
Israeli human rights group Yesh Din has documented more than 530 incidents of settler violence since the olive harvest began in late September, averaging 27 incidents a day. Israeli soldiers were present during roughly a quarter of the reported attacks, according to the group.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that Washington had repeatedly urged Israel to crack down on settler violence.
“The President has been very clear. He’s said this repeatedly. He does not want to see friction or anything — a crisis — going on in the West Bank,” Rubio said.
Meanwhile, Israel’s defence minister said on Monday that he would not reinstate administrative detention for Jewish Israelis, a measure that allows suspects to be held without charge or trial. Its use against Jewish Israelis was halted nearly two years ago.
The arrests come amid heightened scrutiny of settler violence in the occupied territory and ahead of Israel’s October 27 election. US President Donald Trump endorsed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, describing him as “Strong, Brave, and Brilliant”.