Israeli settlers beat Palestinians, U.S. photojournalist in West Bank : NPR
Key Points:
- Masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in the occupied West Bank, injuring several, including American photojournalist Heidi Levine of The Washington Post, who was beaten despite wearing a clearly marked press vest.
- Levine described being pushed to the ground and repeatedly kicked while her cameras and phone were torn from her; she was hospitalized but is now safe after receiving medical care.
- The Israeli police acknowledged the incident and promised an investigation, while the U.S. Embassy condemned violence in the West Bank and called for accountability without specifically naming Levine.
- The attacks coincided with a surge in settler violence during the olive harvest season, with 24 settler attacks reported on that day alone, injuring 20 people, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
- Journalists' groups condemned the attack as part of a broader pattern of violence and harassment against media covering the West Bank, criticizing Israeli authorities for failing to prevent such assaults and protect press freedom.