Masked Israeli Settlers Nearly Kill Washington Post Journalist as Attacks on Palestinians Escalate

Key Points:

• In the West Bank village of Abu Falah, Israeli settlers violently attacked Palestinian olive farmers during the olive harvest, using clubs, slingshots, firearms, and setting olive trees on fire.
• Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, clearly marked as press, was brutally beaten by masked settlers, suffering multiple injuries including broken ribs and vertebrae, and had her equipment and passport stolen.
• Despite coordination with the Israeli military (IDF) for protection during the harvest, the IDF failed to intervene against the settlers and instead fired tear gas at Palestinians defending their land; 10 suspects have since been arrested.
• U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee condemned the attack as a "despicable act of terror," while President Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who called for an investigation but denied clear facts of the assault.
• Journalist Jasper Nathaniel reported that Palestinian youth bravely defended the village and rescued Levine amid the violence, highlighting ongoing settler attacks and inadequate Israeli state protection, even against American citizens in the West Bank.