US ambassador denounces West Bank settler attack on photojournalist

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 18:07 · Archive

US ambassador Mike Huckabee has condemned an attack by masked Israeli settlers on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine in the occupied West Bank. Huckabee called the attack a 'despicable act of terror' and a 'vicious and cowardly attack', demanding the arrest and prosecution of those responsible. He noted that Levine was a US citizen clearly identifiable as a journalist.

Levine, 63, was attacked last Friday whilst documenting Palestinians attempting to harvest olives. She was beaten for more than ten minutes by the settlers, who also stole her camera, passport and phone. She sustained broken ribs, injuries to several vertebrae and required hand surgery. 'I was attacked, pushed to the ground,' she said. 'Luckily, I had my flak jacket and helmet, otherwise I probably wouldn't even be here, because they just kept kicking and kicking me.' Palestinian colleagues intervened to end the attack.

From her hospital bed, Levine expressed anger at Netanyahu's response. According to the Independent World, she told the Associated Press she was 'shocked and insulted' that the Prime Minister referred to the attack as 'alleged', saying he 'had all the evidence on the table'. However, she described receiving sharp condemnation from Israel's president and a letter from several top former security and intelligence officials expressing shame over the attack. The Independent World reports that hundreds of Palestinians have been attacked during this olive harvest season, which began in late September.

How it is being reported

• Washington Post photographer attacked by settlers says she is insulted by Netanyahu's reactionHeidi Levine says she plans on returning to workIndependent World · 18 Oct, 17:46
• US ambassador to Israel denounces West Bank settler attack on US photojournalistMike Huckabee calls for arrest and prosecution of those responsible as Heidi Levine, 63, recovers in hospital in Israel The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, has denounced the settler attack that left the Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine badly beaten and needing surgery as a “despicable act of terror” and called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible. Levine, an award-winning journalist who lives in Israel, was set upon last Friday by masked Israeli settlers who used clubs and other weapons to attack Palestinian people attempting to harvest their olives in…The Guardian · 18 Oct, 16:33

In this story: Heidi Levine · Mike Huckabee · Benjamin Netanyahu · Washington Post · West Bank · Israel

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