Attacks During Olive Harvest in West Bank
Dozens of masked Israeli settlers descended from a settlement into an olive grove in the Palestinian village of Abu Falah on Friday during the olive harvest, injuring two people including Heidi Levine, a 63-year-old American photojournalist for The Washington Post. The incident occurred as settler violence reached historic highs, with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs recording nearly 200 harvest-related attacks that have resulted in one death and 120 injuries across the West Bank.
Injuries and Assault on Press in Abu Falah
The attackers arrived with gasoline canisters to burn olive trees before throwing stones at local Palestinian residents, according to witnesses. When a group of photojournalists approached within 70 metres, the settlers pursued them and targeted Levine. We saw at least 50 masked people coming from the hill with slingshots. When they came running, they attacked me and pushed me to the ground. I was wearing my bulletproof vest and helmet. If not for that, I might not be here now, because they kept hitting me and hitting me, probably about 50 times. About 10 minutes later, they lifted me up, threw me to the ground again and kept hitting me,
Levine stated from her hospital bed in Ramala, describing how attackers struck her repeatedly despite her protective helmet and press vest. Video footage captured Levine lying on a dirt path while at least three individuals struck her with sticks before taking her cameras, mobile phone, wallet, and passport.
Heidi Levine, an American photographer for the Washington Post, was beaten by Israeli settlers in the West Bank today while covering an olive harvest by Palestinians. She’s now in a Ramallah hospital. This happens every day on the West Bank. Every single day. Palestinians…
Arson and Road Blocks in Jalud
In a separate incident, more than 100 Israeli settlers attacked the northern West Bank village of Jalud on Monday night to prevent a Palestinian family from returning to their home. The family had previously been forced to leave due to nationalist violence and held a ruling from the Supreme Court of Israel authorizing their return. The attackers set fire to buildings, vehicles, and tires, blocking roads and throwing stones at Israel Defense Forces and Border Police personnel who arrived to disperse the crowds, according to a military spokesperson. Three Border Police members sustained minor injuries during the clashes, and security forces detained two suspects.
Official Responses and Condemnations
The Israeli military issued a statement condemning the Abu Falah incident as a violent confrontation and stated it is examining the circumstances. Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Jalud events and similar violence, attributing the actions to a handful of rioters who do not represent the settlers who respect the law,
as reported. In contrast, the Foreign Press Association in Israel and Palestine criticized authorities for ignoring repeated appeals to protect civilians, urging the military to stop making excuses and calling on Netanyahu to cease minimizing the actions of radical settlers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What legal ruling preceded the attack in Jalud?
The Supreme Court of Israel authorized the displaced Palestinian family to return to their home in Jalud after months of forced displacement caused by repeated nationalist harassment.
How many harvest-related attacks has the United Nations recorded?
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has documented nearly 200 olive harvest-related attacks in the West Bank resulting in one death and 120 injuries.
What items were stolen from photojournalist Heidi Levine during the assault?
Attackers took Levine’s cameras, a mobile phone attached to a lanyard, her wallet, and her passport after repeatedly striking her with sticks in Abu Falah.
Worth a look