US Ambassador Huckabee praises arrests in Binyamin violence

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee responded to the arrest of eight suspects in connection with violent incidents in Binyamin last weekend, in which a photographer and foreign diplomatic representatives were reportedly attacked. In his statement, Huckabee welcomed the arrests and called for full prosecution of those responsible.

According to Huckabee, the arrests represent "a very positive development in finding and punishing those who brutally attacked and beat Heidi Levine, an unarmed journalist from the Washington Post."

Two days ago, Huckabee condemned the violent incidents in Binyamin, saying that "those who attacked the journalist should be in prison for many years. We called for a full investigation, arrests, and full prosecution of everyone who was part of this incident. Attacking a photographer is a criminal act of terror carried out by masked cowards."

Arrests in Binyamin (Photo: Israel Police Spokesperson)

Police announced this morning the arrest of eight suspects as part of a special operation named "Olive Leaf," launched following the violent incidents reported over the weekend, including the assault on a journalist and suspected attacks on foreign diplomatic representatives in the Binyamin region.

According to the police statement, officers from the Judea and Samaria District (known in Hebrew as Mateh Shin-Yud), in cooperation with the Shin Bet security service and accompanied by Border Police and IDF forces, began an arrest operation during which eight suspects were detained and several vehicles were confiscated. Alongside the investigative activity, IDF and Border Police forces are operating in the area to enforce the law, including demolition of illegal construction, handling violations of military orders, and addressing the invasion of a Palestinian home.

Police have not yet released the identities of those arrested or the degree of involvement attributed to each in the incidents under investigation. The suspects have been transferred for continued interrogation at the central unit of the Judea and Samaria District and at police stations in the Shomron area.