American journalist injured in West Bank settler attack

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 20:44 · Archive

American photojournalist Heidi Levine was attacked by masked Israeli settlers whilst reporting on Palestinian olive harvesting near Ramallah.

American photojournalist Heidi Levine, working for the Washington Post, was attacked by a group of masked Israeli settlers in the West Bank on Friday. The incident took place near the village of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah, as Palestinian villagers gathered the autumn olive harvest. Several Palestinians were also injured in the clashes.

Video footage showed around twenty masked men descending from an Israeli settlement outpost into an olive grove. Whilst Levine was on the ground, the masked men threw stones and fired slingshots at Palestinians, who responded by throwing stones themselves. Two vehicles were set on fire during the incident.

Levine, a US citizen and veteran photojournalist, was beaten and kicked despite wearing visible journalist markings. She suffered a large wound to one leg and injuries to her hand, and was taken to hospital in Ramallah where she was reported to be in stable condition. She said: 'I was attacked, pushed to the ground. Luckily I had my flak jacket and helmet, otherwise I probably wouldn't even be here, because they just kept kicking me and kicking me.'

Matt Murray, the Washington Post's executive editor, called for an investigation and said the newspaper was 'outraged by this unwarranted attack on a journalist doing her job'. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the facts of the confrontation remained unclear and were under investigation.

How it is being reported

• West Bank: US journalist injured by Israeli settlersWashington Post journalist Heidi Levine said she was beaten by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. Reporters Without Borders slammed the attack as "brazen violence."DW News · 16 Oct, 20:32
• American journalist, Palestinians injured in West Bank clashesAmong the injured was Heidi Levine, a veteran American photojournalist.CBS News · 16 Oct, 13:23

In this story: Heidi Levine · Washington Post · West Bank · Abu Falah · Ramallah · Benjamin Netanyahu

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