The U.S. State Department expressed concern after Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was attacked and injured by Israeli settlers while covering the olive harvest in the West Bank on Friday.
A State Department spokesperson told MBN that the safety and security of Americans are a top priority for President Donald Trump’s administration, adding that the department was aware of reports concerning the incident and is deeply concerned whenever an American is harmed abroad.
“We are in regular dialogue with partners about improving stability and security in the West Bank,” the spokesperson said. “We condemn criminal violence by any party in the West Bank and support appropriate investigations as well as legal accountability for those responsible.”
The spokesperson added that the department had contacted The Washington Post to offer consular assistance.
The incident occurred Friday in the village of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah, where Levine was covering the olive harvest alongside other journalists when masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians working in olive groves, according to news reports and witnesses at the scene.
Widely circulated video showed Levine lying on the ground as several assailants surrounded her. Speaking from the hospital, Levine said she had been pushed to the ground and repeatedly kicked, and that her helmet and protective vest helped spare her from more serious injuries.
Levine can be heard in the video saying the attackers took all of her belongings and that she was having difficulty standing.
The Washington Post said Levine suffered injuries across her body, a broken rib and a serious hand injury that required surgery. She was taken to a hospital in Ramallah, where her condition was described as stable.
“This morning, a Washington Post photographer, Heidi Levine, was attacked by Israeli settlers while reporting in the West Bank,” Washington Post Executive Editor Matt Murray said in a statement. “She was wearing visible markings clearly identifying her as a journalist. While we are relieved that Heidi has received medical care and is safe, we are outraged by this unwarranted attack on a journalist doing her job and urge a thorough investigation and follow-through from authorities.”
Israeli police said they had opened an investigation into the incident and that forensic investigators went to the scene to collect evidence and statements.
The Israeli military, meanwhile, said troops arrived in the area after receiving a report of a violent confrontation. It said soldiers fired warning shots and used crowd-dispersal measures before opening fire toward a person the military said posed a threat and was carrying a sharp object.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel condemns violence against everyone, including Jews, Arabs, Christians and journalists, and called for a full investigation. He said, however, that the circumstances surrounding the confrontation remained under investigation and that serious questions remained about what happened.
The incident comes amid reports of an increase in settler attacks on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank, particularly during the olive harvest season, which is an important source of income for many Palestinian families.
Yesh Din, an Israeli organization that monitors abuses in the Palestinian territories, said it had documented at least 170 settler attacks since Sept. 27, coinciding with the start of the olive harvest season.
The Committee to Protect Journalists also said the attack on Levine was part of a series of assaults and harassment targeting local and foreign journalists covering events in the West Bank.
Adapted and translated from the original Arabic.
