Washington Post Photographer Attacked by Settlers in West Bank

A photographer for The Washington Post, Heidi Levine, was attacked and injured by Israeli settlers while covering olive harvesting near the Palestinian village of Abu Falah, close to Ramallah. Dozens of settlers, armed with slingshots and a handgun, reportedly descended on Palestinian olive pickers. Levine described being "jumped" by an estimated 25 to 50 individuals who kicked her for approximately ten minutes while she was on the ground. She recounted them tearing her bag, stealing her cameras, and ripping her phone from her neck, though she was wearing a helmet and protective vest. Palestinian villagers eventually arrived and rescued her. Following the incident, Israeli military and border police forces arrived at the scene to disperse the confrontation. Police and forensic investigators are collecting evidence and testimonies. The IDF also neutralized a suspect who approached forces with a sharp object. The IDF condemned the violence, stating that attempts to incite friction between populations harm regional security and that violence against innocents is a severe and intolerable phenomenon requiring a multi-organizational solution. The Washington Post expressed outrage over the "unprovoked attack" on Levine, who was clearly identifiable as a journalist, and demanded a thorough investigation. In a separate incident near the town of Turmus Ayya, also in the Ramallah area, Palestinian farmers reported attacks by settlers who also set vehicles on fire.