US Secretary of State: Deeply Disturbed by Settler Violence in the West Bank

Washington, Oct 18 (KUNA) -- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed “deep concern” over the attacks carried out by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank, emphasizing that the United States does not wish to see any escalation in the region. Rubio said in press remarks on Saturday before boarding a flight to Uzbekistan, “I have seen it. We are all deeply disturbed by those images and by everything we are witnessing,” adding, “We have asked the Israelis and continue to urge them to take strict action against these practices.” He stressed that “President (Donald Trump) has been very clear on this matter and has reiterated his position repeatedly; he does not want to see any clashes or crises unfolding in the West Bank,” adding, “We do not want to see a new spark ignite the conflict.” He clarified that the U.S. State Department had inquired about an incident involving the assault on an American journalist and that he expected a response from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem by Sunday, noting that such practices are “extremely alarming and completely unacceptable.” News reports on Saturday stated that American photojournalist Heidi Levine was assaulted by Israeli settlers while covering ongoing attacks targeting Palestinian olive farmers in the occupied West Bank, necessitating her transfer to a hospital in Ramallah. The Palestinian News Agency (Wafa) also confirmed on Saturday that masked settlers attacked vehicles belonging to European diplomatic missions in the village of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, in the West Bank. (End) A.M.M. / M.A.A.