Dozens of masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villagers during the annual olive harvest at Abu Falah in the occupied West Bank on Friday, burning olive trees, throwing rocks and injuring at least two people, including Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, according to Reuters witnesses at the scene. About 80 settlers, some carrying gas canisters, came down from a hill above the terraced grove where villagers had gathered to pick the harvest, and some used slings to launch rocks at the villagers.
Palestinian medics said two people were taken to hospitals near Ramallah. Levine, who is in stable condition, said from her hospital bed that she was pushed to the ground and repeatedly kicked, and that her flak jacket and helmet likely saved her life. Video of the attack showed her lying on a dirt path with her hands over her face as at least three settlers surrounded her.
Israeli military jeeps passed through the area during the attack, and witnesses said soldiers fired tear gas toward the Palestinians; a Reuters photographer saw at least one armed settler fire a gun. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to requests for comment. An earlier attack the same morning near Turmus Ayya village saw settlers burn three cars after attacking farmers.
The Israeli monitoring group Yesh Din counts at least 170 settler attacks since September 27, around the start of the olive harvest. The West Bank is home to some 500,000 settlers and at least 3 million Palestinians; UN bodies and most countries deem the settlements illegal under international law, a position Israel rejects. The violence is now a diplomatic file as well as a security one, with longtime Israeli allies including Britain weighing sanctions over settler attacks.