World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Palestinian youths helped save photojournalist Heidi Levine from settler attack
Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was attacked while covering the olive harvest in Abu Falah, a village north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Masked Israeli settlers knocked the 64-year-old to the ground and repeatedly beat her, leaving her with fractured vertebrae, broken ribs and puncture wounds.
Palestinian youths used slingshots to drive the attackers back, allowing another journalist and colleagues to reach Levine and help her to safety.
Levine said her helmet and body armour probably saved her life, while more than 20 Palestinians have been killed in settler attacks so far this year, according to one account.
Israeli officials questioned who started the confrontation, although video showed Levine being attacked; Israeli police have arrested some suspects.
The incident has renewed scrutiny of settler violence and how authorities respond to attacks on Palestinians and foreign nationals.
Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine said Palestinian youths helped save her during a serious attack by masked Israeli settlers in the West Bank.
Levine was covering the olive harvest in Abu Falah, north of Ramallah, when she was knocked down and beaten.
She suffered four fractured vertebrae, two broken ribs and four puncture wounds.
Witnesses said young Palestinian men used slingshots to drive the attackers back, allowing journalists to help Levine.
The Israeli prime minister’s office said the facts of the confrontation remained unclear and questioned who initiated the violence.
- Who
- Heidi Levine, a Washington Post photojournalist, was attacked. Palestinian youths and other journalists helped protect and rescue her.
- What
- Masked Israeli settlers knocked Levine down and beat her while she was covering the olive harvest.
- When
- Friday. She was discharged from hospital on Wednesday.
- Where
- Abu Falah, north of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank.
- Why
- Levine was there to cover the olive harvest. The attackers’ motive is not stated.
Heidi Levine and witnesses
Israeli prime minister’s office
Account of the confrontation
Heidi Levine and witnesses
Levine and witnesses described masked settlers attacking and beating her.
Israeli prime minister’s office
The office said the facts remained unclear and questioned whether settlers or Palestinians initiated the violence.
Response to the incident
Heidi Levine and witnesses
Levine described a brutal attack and said Palestinian youths helped save her.
Israeli prime minister’s office
The office said Israel condemned violence against anyone and warned against using disputed incidents to demonise Jewish residents.
Masked settlers attacked Levine as she covered the olive harvest in Abu Falah.
Palestinian youths used slingshots to drive the settlers back, and journalists helped Levine to safety.
A group of European diplomats was also attacked, according to ABC Australia.
Levine was discharged from hospital in Petah Tikva.
- Injuries
- Four fractured vertebrae, two broken ribs and four puncture wounds
- Location
- Abu Falah, north of Ramallah
- Protection
- Levine was wearing body armour and a helmet
- Assistance
- Young Palestinian men used slingshots to force the attackers back
- Hospital
- Petah Tikva, Israel
3 sources
What people are saying
I probably would have been dead, because for sure it doesn’t take much to kill a person with blows to the head
The shabab [Palestinian youth] put themselves in front and were trying to keep them [the settlers] away, keep a protective shield, which was amazing. It was like a biblical battle
the facts surrounding the confrontation … remain unclear
We will not allow disputed incidents to be exploited to demonise the hundreds of thousands of law-abiding Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria
Posts on X
The Prime Minister’s Office: The facts surrounding the confrontation near Abu Falah, during which Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was allegedly assaulted, remain unclear and are under investigation. Israel unequivocally condemns violence against anyone—Jews, Arabs,