Israeli settlers attack West Bank olive pickers; photographer taken to hospital

Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives near Abu Falah, close to Ramallah, on Friday 16 October, setting trees alight and throwing stones, according to eyewitness reports from the BBC and Reuters. Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was taken to hospital after the confrontation. [1] [3]

The BBC said about a dozen olive trees were set on fire. Reuters described masked settlers coming down a hill towards the groves, some using slings to throw stones. Palestinian villagers later threw stones back, its reporters said. [1] [3]

Speaking to Reuters from a hospital bed, Levine said she had been pushed to the ground and that her attackers “just kept kicking me and kicking me”. Reuters described footage showing her lying on a path with settlers around her. The Times of Israel described footage posted by activists in which masked people struck her with sticks. [3] [5]

Palestinian medics told Reuters that two injured people, including Levine, were taken to hospitals near Ramallah. The Associated Press reported that the Palestinian Red Crescent counted six injured people across two attacks it responded to in Abu Falah. The figures do not describe the same number of incidents. [3] [4]

Reuters reported that Israeli soldiers arrived while the attack was continuing and fired tear gas towards Palestinians. An AP photograph caption says soldiers shot a Palestinian after a settler attack at Abu Falah. WAFA, citing the Palestinian Red Crescent, reported that a Palestinian had been wounded in the thigh. The circumstances of the shooting remain unclear. [3] [4] [7]

The Binyamin Regional Council called the confrontation a “planned provocation”, according to The Times of Israel, alleging that hundreds of people threw stones and fired fireworks towards Israelis. A Reuters photograph caption identifies a Palestinian setting off fireworks towards settlers, while its reporters saw Palestinians throw stones after settlers had done so. Those details do not establish the council’s claim that the confrontation was planned. [6] [2] [3]

Reuters also reported a separate attack on olive harvesters near Turmus Ayya earlier on Friday, in which settlers burned three cars. AP said Israel’s army and police had not immediately answered its questions about the attacks. [3] [4]