# Israeli Settlers Attack West Bank Villages

> Israeli settlers injure 20 Palestinians and attack journalists in West Bank olive harvest.
- Title: Israeli Settlers Attack West Bank Villages · Foreign Policy
- Summary: Israeli settlers injure 20 Palestinians and attack journalists in West Bank olive harvest. Israeli settlers injured 20 Palestinians and attacked Washington…
- Keywords: breaking, israeli settlers, west bank, palestinian civilians, olive harvest, heidi levine, washington post, settlement violence, journalist safety, Israeli, Settlers, Attack
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/16/israel-settler-attacks-palestinians-west-bank-washington-post-levine
- Author: Alexandra Sharp
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: breaking, israeli settlers, west bank, palestinian civilians, olive harvest, heidi levine, washington post, settlement violence, journalist safety
## Settler Attack in West Bank
Dozens of masked Israeli settlers carried out a mass coordinated attack on Palestinian civilians harvesting olives in eight West Bank villages on Friday.
## Injured Journalist
Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was wearing a protective vest marked 'PRESS' when attacked and is being treated for a broken rib and multiple lacerations.
## Levine's Account
Levine told reporters, 'They just kept kicking me and kicking me, like probably 50 times'.

> They just kept kicking me and kicking me, like probably 50 times
## Journalist Targeting
The Committee to Protect Journalists reported 35 journalists assaulted, threatened, or obstructed by Israeli settlers in occupied territory during first eight months of this year.
## Recent Attack
Palestinian AFP photojournalist Jaafar Ashtiyeh was attacked by armed Israeli settlers outside Nablus on Oct. 6.
## Israeli Foreign Press Association
The Israeli Foreign Press Association called Friday’s assault on Levine 'the latest in a long line of violent attacks by Israeli settlers against journalists and other civilians'.
## Netanyahu's Response
Netanyahu vowed to investigate the incident but stopped short of condemning settler violence.
## Settler Violence Context
Between January and August of this year, the UN documented more than 1,600 settler attacks in the West Bank and at least 76 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces or settlers.
## Olive Harvest Target
Settler attacks routinely target the annual fall olive harvest, which is traditionally done by Palestinian families and is a vital source of income for many Palestinians.
## New Restrictions
Israel imposed new restrictions on the olive harvest, prohibiting Palestinians from harvesting trees in Area C without military approval.
## Area C Definition
Most of the West Bank’s agricultural land is in Area C, a part of the West Bank under Israeli military control.
## Netanyahu's Investigation
Netanyahu’s office said it is investigating the most recent spate of attacks including the assault on Levine.
## Netanyahu's Statement
The prime minister’s office wrote on X that reports indicate 200 Arabs and far-left activists confronted approximately 40 Israeli youths.
## Opposition Reaction
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X that Jewish terror attacks against the Washington Post photographer are not a failure of the government, they are the government’s policy.
## Key takeaway

Israeli settlers injured 20 Palestinians and attacked Washington Post journalist Heidi Levine during olive harvest in West Bank.