Jake Tapper blasts CNN crew detention by IDF as Jeremy Diamond alleges violent conduct

ATLANTA, GEORGIA: CNN anchor Jake Tapper did not hold back as he reacted to the detention of a CNN crew in the West Bank by the IDF, calling the incident “completely unacceptable.”

Tapper, on Sunday, March 29, was talking to correspondent Jeremy Diamond as he described how Israeli troops allegedly turned aggressive during his reporting on settler violence.

Jeremy Diamond calls confrontation 'quite violent'

Detailing the moment his team arrived in the Palestinian village of Tayasir, Diamond said, “Things immediately escalated,” making it clear the situation spiraled within minutes.

He then described the reaction from Israeli forces in stark terms: the troops responded “quite violently” to the crew’s presence.

According to Diamond, the confrontation turned physical. He said soldiers “put photojournalist Cyril Theophilos in a chokehold,” as the crew was detained for nearly two hours.

Despite the intensity of the encounter, Diamond confirmed everyone was safe afterward, but made it clear the experience was deeply revealing.

Diamond pointed to what he saw as a troubling imbalance in enforcement.

“What was remarkable was not only the fact that the soldiers were only taking action against us and the Palestinians in the area and not against those settlers,” he said.

He stressed that the outpost involved was illegal, yet enforcement appeared selective.

More strikingly, Diamond shared what he was told during the detention. One soldier, he said, admitted the outpost was unlawful but added, “One day, it will be legal.”

That comment, Diamond argued, reflects a broader strategy: “The Israeli settler playbook to create facts on the ground and then get this right-wing government in Israel to legalize those settlements under Israeli law.”

Jake Tapper calls detention 'completely unacceptable'

Diamond also warned of a wider surge in violence, saying there has been a “huge increase” in settler attacks since October 7, 2023.

“It just gives you a sense of how out of control this Israeli violence is now getting in the West Bank,” he added.

Tapper responded forcefully. “Completely unacceptable!” he said, reacting both to the detention and the broader situation on the ground.

He then praised the team’s work, calling their reporting “brave” despite the risks.

Earlier, an international journalists’ group, the Foreign Press Association, raised an alarm over the incident.

The association called for an investigation, describing the incident as “deeply troubling,” and said the crew had been clearly identified when they were stopped.

According to the group, the encounter escalated quickly beyond routine checks, with soldiers allegedly “aggressively targeting” both the journalists and nearby Palestinian civilians, even pointing rifles despite the crew identifying themselves.