Ten Arrested in West Bank Attacks on Diplomats and Journalist
Translated & summarized from Mignews by baba
Israeli police arrested ten people on October 19, 2026, in connection with weekend attacks on foreign diplomats and a photojournalist in the West Bank. The "Olive Leaf" operation targeted suspects involved in assaults near Abu Falah and Taybeh, where a journalist and diplomats were injured. The arrests coincide with broader efforts to dismantle illegal settler outposts during the olive harvest season.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ten individuals were arrested on October 19, 2026, for attacks on diplomats and a journalist.
- The arrests followed assaults on October 16 and 17 near Abu Falah and Taybeh.
- Photojournalist Heidi Levine of The Washington Post was among those injured.
- The police operation was codenamed "Olive Leaf" and involved the Shin Bet and IDF.
- The arrests occurred during the olive harvest season amid unrest.
- Simultaneous operations targeted illegal settler outposts in the region.
Israeli police announced on October 19, 2026, that ten individuals have been detained on suspicion of involvement in recent attacks against foreign diplomats and a photojournalist in the West Bank, referred to in the article as Judea and Samaria. The arrests followed a series of violent incidents that occurred over the preceding weekend and garnered international attention.
On October 16, masked assailants attacked Palestinian farmers and a media crew near the village of Abu Falah. Among those injured was The Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, who sustained moderate injuries and was hospitalized. The following day, diplomats from France, Belgium, and Poland, along with Israeli activists, were targeted near the village of Taybeh. Participants reported that the attackers used clubs and stones.
Police Commissioner Danny Levi stated that the law in Judea and Samaria applies to everyone impartially and that police are committed to enforcing it based on evidence. The operation, codenamed "Olive Leaf," commenced before dawn on October 19 in the Benjamin region, north of Jerusalem. Police, in conjunction with the Shin Bet security agency and IDF escort, arrested eight suspects and seized several vehicles. The arrests are linked to disturbances that occurred during the olive harvest season.
Simultaneously, the military and border police conducted operations to dismantle illegal settler outposts and address other violations in the region, according to a report by Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian.
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