American and European officials have condemned a recent surge of violence in the West Bank involving Israeli settlers attacking Palestinians and others participating in the annual olive harvest. The attacks have heightened tensions in the region ahead of Israel’s upcoming general election.
In a series of incidents over the past week, masked assailants targeted Palestinians and foreign nationals, including Heidi Levine, an American photographer for The Washington Post. The attack on Levine, which took place near Ramallah, was captured on video and showed her being beaten and injured. Levine’s family reported that she suffered a broken rib, lacerations to her legs and hip, and a serious cut on her left hand.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed deep concern over the footage and stated that Washington was pressing Israel to investigate and hold those responsible accountable. U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman described the attack on Levine as “a despicable act of terror” and urged Israeli authorities to prosecute the perpetrators “to the fullest extent of the law.”
Similar assaults took place in Taybeh, a Christian town in the West Bank, where masked men disrupted the olive harvest and reportedly attacked both Palestinians and a European diplomatic convoy. Among the diplomats attacked was Bernard Baudoux, a visiting French mayor. The European Union and the French government condemned the violence and called on Israel to take concrete steps to halt these acts.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the rise in violence but cast doubt on the severity and authenticity of some attacks, including that on Levine, despite video evidence. In a televised interview, Netanyahu said an investigation was ongoing and suggested that some reports might be part of “a coordinated campaign to smear Israel.” He emphasized that he did not support vigilantism but avoided confirming details about the specific attacks.
Levine directly challenged Netanyahu’s characterization of the incident, calling his remarks “such a lie and the biggest insult.” The prime minister faces a tight election race scheduled for October 27, with polls showing little separation between him and his main opponents. Netanyahu’s coalition partners on the right, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have largely refrained from publicly condemning the attacks, while his political opponents have accused his government of tolerating “Jewish terrorism” in the West Bank.
Since the start of the olive harvest in late September, more than 80 violent episodes involving settlers and Israeli soldiers have been reported, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group. This violence has contributed to the displacement of numerous Palestinian communities over recent years.
President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack on Levine in a statement, calling the behavior of the perpetrators “despicable” and saying it does not represent the values of Israel. Herzog also spoke directly with Levine to express his sympathy. In addition, over 100 retired Israeli diplomats signed an open letter denouncing the violence as a “moral stain” that harms Israel’s international standing.
The attacks and the political responses come amid rising concerns from the international community about settler violence and its impact on efforts to stabilize the West Bank ahead of the Israeli elections.