Israeli Settlers Attack Journalist Heidi Levine in West Bank

Heidi Levine, 64, was beaten and robbed near Abu Falah on Friday. Israel’s president apologized, while the prime minister’s office said the facts were unclear.

Levine was knocked to the ground, beaten with sticks, kicked repeatedly and stripped of her cameras and phone by masked settlers. She suffered lacerations, a broken rib, four broken vertebrae and hand injuries, including a finger ripped open to the bone. She was wearing a vest marked “PRESS” front and back, underwent hand surgery Saturday and was in stable condition at Beilinson Hospital near Tel Aviv.

What happened

The attack came on Friday, October 16, during the annual olive harvest near Abu Falah, north-east of Ramallah. Reuters witnesses said dozens of masked settlers burned olive trees and hurled rocks at villagers. Video shows masked settlers, some armed with clubs, throwing stones at Palestinians, some of whom threw stones back. In the background, at least five settlers surround Levine, throw her down and beat her. Witnesses said Israeli troops fired tear gas at the Palestinians throwing rocks but did not stop the settlers. Levine said the assault ended when Palestinian colleagues intervened.

The size of the attacking group is disputed. Witnesses told Reuters about 80 settlers took part. CBS News video showed around 20 masked men descending from the direction of a settlement outpost. Netanyahu’s office said competing accounts held that hundreds of “Arabs and far-left activists” confronted about 40 Israeli youths.

Levine described the attack from her hospital bed: “I was attacked, pushed to the ground.” She told the Associated Press the attackers kicked her for about ten minutes as she tried to protect her cameras and bag. Independent journalist Jasper Nathaniel posted video of the assault on X.

Reaction

Netanyahu’s office said Levine was “allegedly assaulted” and that the facts were unclear and under investigation. The Post’s executive editor, Matt Murray, answered that “some facts are neither in dispute nor unclear,” noting she was clearly marked as press and clearly beaten.

President Isaac Herzog phoned Levine, expressed deep sorrow and apologized, saying the “despicable behavior of these criminals” does not represent Israel. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee called for a full investigation, arrest and prosecution, describing the attack as an act of terror by masked cowards. The Foreign Press Association called it the latest in a long line of settler attacks on journalists and civilians, and urged the military’s Central Command to protect civilians.

The attack has entered Israel’s election campaign. With national elections set for October 27, Netanyahu’s opponents accused his government of turning a blind eye to settler violence. Neither far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir nor Bezalel Smotrich commented on the attack.

A SECOND INCIDENT

On Saturday, a delegation of European diplomats, including representatives of France, Belgium and Poland, was assaulted in the village of Taybeh, about a half-hour drive from Abu Falah. Video showed masked figures attacking the group. The Taybeh parish priest said settlers beat several members of the mission and attacked the Belgian consul’s car. The Israeli military condemned the targeting of diplomats but said the visit had not been coordinated in advance. Netanyahu’s office said the images did not establish the full sequence of events.

What's Next

Israeli police and military officials said they had opened an investigation into the Taybeh incident. Officials have said the Abu Falah attack is also under investigation.