Marco Rubio issues demand to Israel over 'disturbing' settler violence in West Bank

Marco Rubio issues demand to Israel over 'disturbing' settler violence in West Bank Israeli settlers in the West Bank have been involved in at least 170 attacks on Palestinians since September 27 Sign up to the World News Newsletter Email address Sign up I agree to receive updates and information about my account, the GB News Community, and related products and services from GB News. By signing up you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy and Community Rules. Thank you for signing up! See the latest from GB News here . Choose GB News on Google - add us as a preferred source Choose GB News Support GB News Champion free speech and independent journalism while unlocking exclusive benefits. Support us Marco Rubio has called on the Israeli government to "crack down" on settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The Secretary of State has issued a demand to Jerusalem after American journalists and European diplomats were targeted by violent Israeli settlers. His comments to reporters came after the widespread dissemination of a video showing multiple individuals attacking Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist with the Washington Post. Settlers in the West Bank have been involved in at least 170 attacks on Palestinians since September 27, around the start of the annual olive harvest, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Ms Levine was one of at least two people injured in the Friday incident, which took place as Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians. Speaking to reporters before boarding a flight to Uzbekistan, Mr Rubio said: "We're very disturbed by those images and what we're seeing. "We've asked the Israelis and continue to ask them to crack down on that stuff." The Secretary of State said he expects to hear back from the US Embassy in Jerusalem by the end of the week. Mr Rubio has issued a demand to the Israeli government | REUTERS Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said Brussels' consul general to the Palestinians, French and Polish diplomats, and Catholic representatives were among those attacked in yesterday's incident. He said: "As the occupying power, Israeli authorities must protect Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists, and bring those responsible to justice. Impunity for violent settlers must end." Mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, Bernard Baudoux, said he had been harvesting olives near the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh in solidarity with the local community when he was "violently attacked" by masked settlers. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the attack, describing the perpetrators as Israeli rioters, but suggested the diplomats should have coordinated their visit with the Israeli military. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS FROM THE WEST BANK IDF surrounds last Christian town in West Bank as Israeli settlers clash with local population Settler attacks continue on last Christian village in West Bank despite IDF declaring 'closed military zone' British soldiers tracking Israeli settler 'terrorism' expelled from West Bank after Ed Miliband sanctions Masked Israeli settlers targeted diplomats | REUTEES Heidi Levine, a photojournalist with the Washington Post, was attacked by settlers | REUTERS Settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank have surged over the past three years, with journalists, activists and foreign observers targeted by violent Israeli attackers. On Friday, dozens of masked settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in the West Bank as well as Ms Levine. Mr Prevot said: "Palestinians face this violence every day. Settlers also target journalists reporting on it and diplomats. "Harvesting olives, reporting the news or carrying out diplomatic duties should never put anyone at risk of attack." Israeli militant settlers attacked a group of Palestinians harvesting olives near Turmus Ayya | REUTERS Palestinians look towards Israeli settlers casting projectiles amid clashes during olive harvest | REUTERS Israeli police said they opened an investigation into the incident, but made no immediate announcement of any arrests. Prosecutions of settlers accused of violent crimes by Israelis against Palestinians in the West Bank are rare. The settlers have been emboldened by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has overseen a rapid expansion of settlements and smaller outposts across the West Bank. Prime Minister Netanyahu has spoken out against the violence but has taken few steps to crack down on incidents that have drawn international condemnation and sanction plans by longtime Israeli allies, including Britain. Israeli settlers threw projectiles during the olive harvest in the occupied West Bank | REUTERS Benjamin Netanyahu has come under fire from the international community for failing to deal with West Bank settler violence | REUTERS The West Bank is home to around 500,000 settlers and at least three million Palestinians. UN bodies and most countries deem the settlements illegal under international law regarding military occupations. Israel rejects this, viewing the territory as disputed rather than occupied. The Abu Falah attack followed a similar attack on Friday morning in the area of Turmus Ayya village, where settlers burned three cars after attacking a group of Palestinian farmers harvesting olives. Salah Abu Niswa, who witnessed the attack in Turmus Ayya, said the settlers "snuck up like thieves, they caught someone by himself and began to beat him." 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