Israeli settlers attack US congressman and foreign journalists

Recent attacks on international journalists and a visiting U.S. congressman have again drawn attention to the surge in violence attributed to Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. On Monday, two reporters from European news agencies were assaulted while covering a protest near the settlement of Elon Moreh, sustaining minor injuries before being escorted to safety by local police. A few days earlier, Representative Mike Johnson of Ohio, traveling with a bipartisan delegation, was struck by a stone thrown from a nearby settlement road, an incident that left him with a bruised rib but no serious harm. Both incidents were captured on video and quickly circulated on social media, prompting condemnation from diplomatic missions and press freedom organizations.

Authorities in Israel opened investigations into the assaults, while the Israeli Defense Forces placed additional patrols in the area. The U.S. State Department expressed “deep concern” and urged swift accountability, and the Committee to Protect Journalists called for enhanced protection for media workers operating in the territories. Human‑rights groups noted that the attacks fit a broader pattern of settler‑related hostility toward Palestinians, journalists, and foreign officials, underscoring longstanding calls for stricter enforcement of existing regulations. The renewed scrutiny is expected to pressure Israeli officials to address settler violence and to ensure the safety of both local residents and international observers.