The Foreign Press Association (FPA) condemned the attack on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine in the West Bank on Friday and demanded Israeli authorities prosecute those responsible, as Levine sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for saying details of the assault remained “unclear.”
Levine was badly beaten Friday while covering the olive harvest near the Palestinian village of Abu Falah, north of Ramallah. She underwent surgery Saturday on a finger that Levine and her daughter said was nearly detached during the attack and was listed in moderate condition at Rabin Medical Center.
The FPA said settlers also stole Levine’s passport, phone, wallet and equipment and described the assault as the latest in a series of attacks on journalists and civilians in the West Bank. The association called on the army, Shin Bet, police and government officials to act against those responsible.
It also directly challenged Netanyahu, calling on him to stop dismissing such violence as the actions of a few “troubled youths” and recognize what the FPA described as a broader problem.
Netanyahu said Saturday that the circumstances surrounding the incident had not been established.
“The facts surrounding the confrontation near Abu Falah, during which Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was allegedly assaulted, remain unclear and are under investigation,” Netanyahu said.
While condemning violence against “Jews, Arabs, Christians or journalists,” Netanyahu said “serious questions remain.” He cited reports that some 200 Arabs and far-left activists confronted approximately 40 Israeli youths and said footage showed masked people on both sides throwing objects.
“Other footage appears to show Levine knocked down and immediately helped to her feet by the same unidentified individual,” he said.
Levine rejected that characterization.
“That is such a lie and the biggest insult,” she said.
Levine said Palestinians were trying to drive the attackers away and credited them with helping save her life.
“Mr. prime minister, maybe take another look at those videos, okay? And really look at those videos with your full attention because you’ll see nobody was trying to help me except for my colleagues,” she said.
According to Reuters, 80 people, allegedly settlers, many masked and some carrying gas canisters, descended from a hill toward the terraced olive grove and began throwing rocks and attacking Palestinians, activists and Levine.
Footage, including video shared by the Washington Post, shows masked men beating and kicking Levine while she was on the ground.
Levine said at least 20 masked men attacked her and that the assault lasted about 10 minutes. She said they were armed with bottles and slingshots and that her helmet and protective vest marked “PRESS” likely prevented more serious injuries.
“They broke my cameras off my shoulders. They broke the straps,” Levine told Channel 12 from her hospital bed. She said doctors and a nurse suspected she may also have been stabbed.
“I didn’t think I was going to make it,” she said.
Netanyahu said an investigation should determine who initiated the violence and cautioned against drawing broader conclusions from the incident.
“We will not allow disputed incidents to be exploited to demonize the hundreds of thousands of law-abiding Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria,” he said.
President Issac Herzog spoke with Levine by phone and condemned the violence, according to his office.
“I was morally tormented during Shabbat when I thought about it, and I express deep sorrow and apologize for what you went through,” Herzog told her.
“The despicable behavior of these criminals does not represent the citizens and values of the State of Israel,” Herzog said, urging authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
