Dagens Nyheter2 hours agoWorld2 min read

63-year-old woman kicked down and olive tree in flames as settlers attack again

Quick Look

In October, Palestinian villagers were attacked by Israeli settlers during the olive harvest in the West Bank.
The settlers threw rocks, set fire to olive trees and beat Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine, who was surrounded and kicked until colleagues came to her aid.
No settlers have been arrested despite witness accounts of continued attacks after the military's arrival.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

Settlers have moved into the area and built protective fences around their homes, while feeling like prisoners due to the proximity of aggressive settler groups who have set up camp on a nearby mountain.

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When DN visited Firas and Meliha in September, they feared it would get worse. They feel like prisoners in their house, having been forced to build high fences with barbed wire to protect themselves from a group of aggressive Israeli settlers. The settlers have set up camp on a mountain just a few hundred meters away. At the beginning of October it was demolished, but they started rebuilding it right away.

- There is no joy left here, Meliha told DN.

And on Friday, about 30 settlers launched a massive attack on villagers who were there to harvest olives.

In videos from the day, published on social media, young, masked men are seen streaming down the mountain in the direction of Fira and Meliha's house. They live next door to large olive groves and the young men throw stones in the direction of Palestinians who are there to harvest. They set olive trees on fire.

Local and international press were also present. Other clips show Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine being beaten by several men. They surround her and kick her until other journalists come to her rescue.

- I can't run, I will die, she shouts when she is asked to hurry towards waiting ambulances.

Large boulders have been placed on the road. The ambulance can't get there. Two Palestinian men carry her (the photographer) to an ambulance paramedic who takes her on his back the last bit.

From her hospital bed, she later thanked her local colleagues for saving her life. She calls her attackers "Jewish terrorists".

- They kicked me at least 15 times. If I hadn't had a helmet, I wouldn't have lived anymore. Unfortunately, I know all too well that no one will be prosecuted for what has happened and continues to happen all the time, says Heidi Levine to local media.

Several others were injured by stone throwing and a Palestinian man was shot in the leg by the Israeli forces who arrived at the scene. None of the settlers have been arrested so far. According to witness statements from Abu Falah, they continued their attacks even after the military had arrived.

From an Israeli perspective, it is believed that the villagers started the riot by "provoking" the settlers, according to the Times of Israel.

It was the most beautiful year of their lives – then the settlers moved in

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

The Israeli military will increase its presence in the area in the coming weeks to prevent further attacks.
Likely · Within weeks
International media organizations will demand better protection for journalists reporting from conflict zones such as the West Bank.
Very likely · Within months

Open Questions

Will any of the settlers be arrested for the attack?
What measures will the Israeli military take to protect Palestinian farmers?
Will international pressure lead to investigation of the incident?