The Israeli ambassador to the United States, Yekhi'el Leiter, announced on Thursday that his son, Neriya Leiter, is fighting for his life. This incident occurred after a Palestinian attacker drove a vehicle towards him at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank.
Details of the Incident and Medical Condition
Neriya Leiter, who is 39 years old, was inspecting vehicles at a checkpoint near an Israeli settlement when he was attacked. Ambassador Leiter, speaking outside a hospital in Jerusalem, told reporters that he rushed home immediately after the incident occurred. Neriya underwent complex surgery that lasted several hours, and according to information from the Shara Zedek Medical Center, his condition is currently stable but still at risk.
Criticism of French President's Statements
Ambassador Leiter also strongly criticized the statements made by Emmanuel Macron, the President of France. Macron, in his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, referred to the violence of Israelis in the West Bank and expressed concern about it. Leiter stated that Macron's remarks stem from "ignorance, malice, or wickedness" and quoted him saying that "Hamas has never harmed Jews in Judea and Samaria," which is the name traditionally used for the West Bank.
This statement comes after a Palestinian attacker killed a settler named Netanel Shachron in the West Bank last Sunday, who was also a French citizen. Leiter clearly stated that the aim of the recent attacks on Neriya and Netanel Shachron is to eradicate the presence of Jews in the area.
Background and Social Dimensions
Leiter, who is himself a religious Jew and has eight children, was born in the United States and later immigrated to Israel, settling in a settlement located in the West Bank. He also has another child who lost his life in the Gaza battle in November 2023. Ambassador Leiter has frequently criticized France and last year accused it of fueling anti-Semitic sentiments after an armed man attacked two Israeli embassy staff in Washington.
Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank are recognized as illegal under international law, and in recent months, attacks and thefts committed by extremist settlers against Palestinians have increased. The United Nations estimates that about six incidents related to settler violence against Palestinians or their property occur daily in these territories.
