Trump endorses Netanyahu before Israeli elections as settler attacks surge

Israel is under increasing pressure to curb settler violence after attacks on an American photojournalist and European diplomats in the West Bank, but Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, appears reluctant to take measures before the election. Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said that he was “disturbed” by the images of Heidi Levine, a veteran Washington Post photographer, being attacked by Israeli settlers. She was hospitalised with severe injuries after being kicked, beaten and possibly stabbed. Most commented 1 Scotland plane crash: boy, 16, and flight instructor, 80, killed Scotland 63 comments “We’ve asked the Israelis, and we continue to ask them, to crack down on that stuff,” Rubio said, adding that the Department of State had looked into the circumstances behind the incident. Marco Rubio says Israel has to crack down on settler violence Heidi Levine was attacked while reporting on the harvest Ali Sawafta/Reuters Andrey X/Reuters President Trump lent his resounding endorsement for Netanyahu to be kept as prime minister of Israel as a “great partner” for peace and war. Top stories 1 US inflation hotter than expected as Iran war stokes fuel costs Economics Vowing to “soon finish the job” against Iran, Trump said Netanyahu was the right person to lead Israel. Advertisement “If Israel has the wrong Leader, which would be anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this work ourselves, and I am not inclined to do so,” Trump said, alluding to renewed collaboration with Israel against the Islamic Republic. Netanyahu and Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, in December Alex Brandon/AP The US and Israel launched a joint operation against Iran in February, but later separated their military efforts with the changing objectives of the war. Israel has not been directly involved in recent hostilities, which have been focused around reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Donald Trump’s approval rating: the latest polls The post, on his platform Truth Social, is the first time Trump has officially endorsed Netanyahu and broke his silence on who he would back, amid a rumoured rift between the two old friends. Top stories 1 Why an all-inclusive cruise is the ultimate single-parent getaway Cruises 2 How Lisbon’s coolest neighbourhood is shaking off its staid past Lisbon 3 17 of the best hotels in the Bahamas Bahamas 4 Why we’re dressing like introverts, instead of screaming for attention LUXX Hailing his strength as a leader, Trump added: “BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Advertisement On Sunday, the European Union said it strongly condemned an attack on diplomats . They were targeted in the Christian village of Taybeh near Ramallah. Settlers reportedly smashed the window of a consulate car and assaulted a 78-year-old French mayor. “We urge Israel to fully abide by International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, and to cease the expansion of settlements,” an EU statement said. European diplomats were attacked by West Bank settlers on Saturday Israeli soldiers with a group of Palestinian farmers and foreign volunteers during the olive harvest as attacks increase Faiz Abu Rmeleh/Getty Images Bernard Baudoux, the mayor of the northern French town of Aulnoye-Aymeries, said: “I think that if settlers are behaving like this, there is a tolerance on the part of the Israeli government. The whole world needs to know what’s happening.” Matthew Gould: Why settlements on a tiny patch of desert matter so much Despite international condemnation and multiple videos from both incidents, Netanyahu said that there was a lack of “compelling evidence” over the attacks and suggested they were part of a smear campaign. Advertisement The prime minister’s office said: “We urge caution before drawing conclusions from today’s reports that European diplomats were attacked by masked Israelis in Judea and Samaria. Any violence against diplomats is unacceptable. The more serious the accusation, the greater the demand for compelling evidence.” The photojournalist was targeted by multiple masked settlers, the day before a French mayor was attacked Andrey X/Reuters Bernard Baudoux, the mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, said the world “needs to know what is happening” AFP Israel’s military said that they had received a report about the attack, but because it was sent by civilians and not security personnel they had failed to respond. The olive harvest in the West Bank, during the months of October and November, often results in a surge in settler attacks. This is because Palestinians tend to harvests which are largely in Area C, which is controlled by Israel and inhabited by Jewish settlers. Activists and journalists often accompany farmers to their fields in order to document settler activity. Israeli soldiers checking Palestinian farmers’ identification documents over the weekend Nedal Shtieh/JNA/Shutterstock Editorial Human rights groups have accused the IDF of standing by during settler attacks and allowing Israeli civilians to act with impunity while stealing livestock, burning trees and terrorising Palestinians. Advertisement Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador toIsrael, called on Netanyahu’s government to imprison the attackers who targeted Levine, labelling it a “despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards”. Levine told Israeli media that she was disappointed that Netanyahu had cast doubt on the circumstances, and denied that settlers were trying to help her up. “That is such a lie and the biggest insult,” Levine told Channel 12 from her hospital bed. Israel watchers say that Netanyahu is seeking to placate his voter base and not make any meaningful moves despite increasing international ire. With less than two weeks before the vote that may unseat the long-time leader, cynics have suggested that Netanyahu could seek to postpone the elections by reigniting war with Iran. ‘When I write, I try to empathise, but with Netanyahu it’s difficult’ “Is Binyamin Netanyahu preparing an ‘October surprise’ in the military realm in an effort to influence the elections? Based on the flood of pronouncements and leaks from the prime minister’s circles, it looks as though the idea is at least being weighed,” wrote a senior military analyst, Amos Harel, in Haaretz. Advertisement Likud, Netanyahu’s ruling party, is not faring well in the polls. They predict either a loss or a draw with the opposition. To survive, Netanyahu would either have to postpone the elections — in a severe case due to war — or hope for a draw and a national unity government. An inconclusive vote, which has happened in previous rounds of elections, would allow Netanyahu to head a caretaker government until a fresh vote is called. War and peace newsletter Tom Newton-Dunn’s concise guide to global conflict – with reasons for optimism. Sign up with one click You’ve successfully signed up to the War and peace newsletter Explore our newsletters An error occurred. Please use the link below. War and peace newsletter Explore our newsletters While Israel has raised its military alert level, Netanyahu previously said that he was not in favour of a pre-emptive strike before the October 27 vote. However, Israeli officials said they were concerned that a possible Iranian provocation or an attack by proxies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon or the Houthis in Yemen could reignite open warfare, which has lain dormant between Iran and Israel since an April ceasefire. On Sunday, Iran’s new defence minister threatened “enormous damage” on the US and its allies if it resumed a military campaign. “People can rest assured that they will most likely not dare to attack us,” Mehrdad Akhlaghi told reporters. “If they (the US) do, they themselves and the region will suffer enormous damage.” Amid speculation over a return to war with Iran, Israeli soldiers will stay on their bases on election day. Army chief Eyal Zamir ordered a rare curfew for soldiers, according to Israel’s main broadcaster Channel 12, following intelligence assessments that Iran or one of its proxy forces may try to catch Israel off guard or to disrupt the election.