Israeli Ambassador to the US Yechiel Leiter harshly condemned the violence from rioters in Judea and Samaria, demanding that Israel take better action to bring them to justice.
In an interview with CNN, Leiter responded to the Friday attack on Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine, saying that such incidents are "completely unacceptable" and stressing that "those perpetrating the violence have to be brought to justice."
"If Israel has not yet reached a passing grade on bringing Jewish vigilantes to justice then we’ve gotta do a better job, and I’m convinced that we are going to do it," he said, adding that he heard Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speak "emphatically" in government meetings that he is determined to end the phenomenon.
Leiter also presented data showing that in 2025, 26 Jews were murdered by Palestinian Arab terrorists, versus two Arabs who were killed by Jewish rioters. According to him, out of 600,000 Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria, the number of those involved in violence amounts to between 50-200 in total.
"The numbers really need to be shown without selective morality," he emphasized. He also stressed that Israel is determined that this small group be arrested and brought to justice.
"But let's not forget that we're dealing with a situation of largescale Palestinian terrorists, numbers of tens of thousands of people who organize terror cells, that are planning to blow [up] buses and shoot at people, Molotov cocktails, rock-throwing, and so on. So, the army has to be as successful at dealing with Jewish vigilantes as it is with quelling Palestinian terror. No question about it."
Regarding his son Neria, who he said was "gravely" injured in a terror attack last month , he said, "We’ve reached that point where he’s not on a ventilator anymore, or a respirator. We’re very hopeful that he’ll be able to make a recovery, but the injury is very severe. Right now, he’s still in a deep coma."
Leiter shared that the terrorist who hit his son was driving at a breakneck speed of 90 kilometers per hour, and that Neria's head hit a cement block and he underwent open-brain surgery that lasted around eight hours.
Three weeks later, Neria is now breathing on his own, but still in a deep coma and suffering severe injuries, he added.
"We're surrounding him 24/7 with love and prayers, and I just want to thank you and all the people out there who are praying for him. We appreciate it," he added.
Asked about Israeli politics, he said that Netanyahu is interested in forming a broad national unity government, and that Netanyahu has already clarified that National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir will not receive a second term in his position and will also not serve as Defense Minister.
Leiter also described Ben Gvir as mostly a figurehead, who does not actually set the police policy.
Otzma Yehudit responded to Leiter's remarks, stating, "Unfortunately, the remarks by Israel's Ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, prove more than anything that the Prime Minister is planning to establish a unity government with [Yashar! chairman Gadi] Eisenkot after the elections, without Ben Gvir and Otzma Yehudit."
Otzma Yehudit further claimed that Netanyahu "is sending the ambassador to the foreign media in the US to reassure them and make it clear that Netanyahu is not interested in continuing the current government, but rather in [forming] a government with Eisenkot."
