US Journalist and Palestinians Injured in West Bank Settler Attack

Dozens of masked settlers attacked Palestinians and set fire to cars and olive trees during the annual olive harvest in the occupied West Bank. A BBC team witnessed one of several attacks near the Palestinian village of Abu Falah, where a local official reported 12 Palestinians injured, including four dual Palestinian-American citizens. A foreign journalist was also among those hurt.

Cars carrying wounded Palestinian olive farmers were seen racing from the area with olive picking equipment, while smoke rose from nearby fires. Majdi Fheed, an American citizen, reported being attacked by settlers with nail-studded sticks, sustaining deep wounds to his head and neck. His elderly mother was also injured.

Another man reported that settlers attacked them with sticks while they were harvesting olives and burned three cars, including his own. A woman present stated that settlers began attacking them as soon as they reached the land.

A U.S. State Department spokesperson acknowledged awareness of the reports, stating, "We condemn criminal violence by any party in the West Bank and call for investigations, arrests, and convictions, of those responsible."

The United Nations reports that the past two weeks have seen more attacks by violent Israeli settlers than during the entire olive harvest season last year. Olive picking in the West Bank has become a race against time, with farmers attempting to harvest fruit rapidly before settler attacks can occur.

In one orchard, farmers worked quickly, with one eye on a nearby illegal outpost where settlers had gathered. The landowner, Amin Khalil, explained that multiple villages had united to harvest the olives together for protection, as his land is surrounded by seven Jewish settlements and outposts. However, this tactic was not enough to prevent the settlers from descending the hill and setting fire to olive trees.

The confrontation escalated, with settlers hurling stones and young Palestinian men retaliating. As Israeli forces arrived, settlers advanced towards the farmers, who retreated. Some Palestinians used fireworks to deter the settlers.

American journalist Heidi Levine, working for The Washington Post, was injured during the confrontation. She described being ambushed, kicked, and struck for at least 10 minutes, despite wearing protective gear. The Washington Post's executive editor, Matt Murray, condemned the attack and urged a thorough investigation.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that personnel were dispatched to the area following a report of a violent confrontation and that a female journalist was injured. The IDF said all circumstances would be examined. Tear gas was later deployed by Israeli forces into the Palestinian fields to end the confrontation.

The UN indicates that settler attacks on the olive harvest this year have resulted in one Palestinian death and over 120 injuries across the West Bank. The proliferation of illegal Jewish outposts near Palestinian olive groves has intensified in recent years, contributing to increased violence by settlers and reinforcing Jewish claims to the land. The annual olive harvest has become a key indicator of the impact of Israel's pro-settlement government policies on Palestinians.