Rubio called video of the Friday assault on Levine "very disturbing" and "not a good look." His remarks followed a demand by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee for the arrest and prosecution of the attackers, saying those who carried out the "despicable act of terror" against the clearly identified American journalist should spend years in prison.
Levine underwent surgery at Beilinson Hospital near Tel Aviv after suffering four broken vertebrae, a broken rib, lacerations and a nearly severed finger when around 80 masked settlers burned olive trees and attacked Palestinian harvesters in the village of Abu Falah near Ramallah. Wearing a helmet and a vest marked "PRESS," Levine said she was clubbed, kicked "probably 50 times" and robbed of her cameras, phone and bag, and she rejected a statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office suggesting footage showed an assailant helping her up as "such a lie and the biggest insult."