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The Violent Settlers Bringing Shame on Israel
The Free Press • • world
Key Points:
- Heidi Levine, a Jewish American photojournalist for The Washington Post, was violently attacked by about 20 masked Israeli settlers while documenting the Palestinian olive harvest in the West Bank, resulting in severe injuries including a broken hip and vertebrae.
- Despite wearing a clearly marked press flak jacket, Levine was knocked to the ground and beaten with sticks and clubs, highlighting the brutality of the assault.
- The attack is part of a broader increase in settler violence in the West Bank, with 660 settler attacks reported in the first half of 2026, causing six Palestinian deaths and 140 injuries, according to Israeli security agencies.
- Analysis shows that attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank outnumber Palestinian attacks on Jews, raising concerns about escalating tensions and violence.
- Critics emphasize that the main issue is not just the frequency of these attacks but the Israeli government's apparent lack of action to prevent or address settler violence.
