Israel's Envoy to US Condemns Jewish Violence in West Bank

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter stated in a CNN interview that Jewish rioters in the West Bank must be stopped and brought to justice. Leiter, who is also dealing with his son Neria's severe injuries from a car-ramming attack, described the violence as "completely unacceptable." He acknowledged that Israel needs to do a better job of prosecuting Jewish lawbreakers, noting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken forcefully about ending the phenomenon.

Leiter shared details about his son Neria's condition, who was critically injured when a terrorist rammed him with a vehicle at approximately 90 km/h. Neria sustained a head injury and underwent extensive brain surgery, remaining in a deep coma. The ambassador expressed gratitude for the prayers and support surrounding his son, noting a slight improvement as Neria can now breathe independently.

Addressing political matters, Leiter discussed the diplomatic challenges of representing Israel, particularly concerning National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. He clarified that Prime Minister Netanyahu desires a broad national unity government and has indicated that Ben-Gvir would not serve as Defense Minister or National Security Minister again, characterizing Ben-Gvir as primarily a "representative figure" not dictating actual police policy.

Leiter presented statistics showing 26 Jews killed by Palestinian terrorists in 2025 compared to two Arabs killed by Jewish assailants. He emphasized that the Jewish rioters constitute a marginal group of 50 to 200 individuals among the approximately 600,000 Jewish residents in the West Bank, reiterating the need to apprehend and prosecute them.

Regarding Iran, Leiter outlined three conditions for regional stability: preventing nuclear weapons, limiting ballistic missiles, and halting support for proxies. He noted Iran's substantial financial support to Hezbollah despite its own economic struggles and expressed a desire for the Iranian regime's downfall and the return of the country to its people.

Leiter also commented on the relationship between Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, based on his observations during several meetings. He described a "deep friendship spanning about 40 years" and stressed Israel's non-interference in US domestic politics, highlighting the excellent relationship between the two leaders.