Washington Post Photographer Heidi Levine Beaten by Masked Settlers During West Bank Olive Harvest

On Friday, during the olive harvest in the West Bank, Heidi Levine, a photojournalist for The Washington Post based in Jerusalem, was assaulted by masked Israeli settlers. While wearing a "press" marked flak jacket, she was knocked to the ground and kicked approximately 50 times after becoming separated from her fellow journalists. Currently, Levine is hospitalized in Tel Aviv, recovering from multiple lacerations, a broken rib, and several fractured vertebrae, with surgery needed for a finger injury. She attributes her protective gear for mitigating more severe harm. That same day, settlers also set olive groves ablaze and attacked Palestinian villagers. Since the harvest's start earlier this month, four individuals have died, and over 100 have been injured, including a Palestinian photographer from AFP. Matt Murray, executive editor of The Washington Post, expressed the paper's outrage over the attack and called for an investigation. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee condemned the incident as a "despicable act of terror." Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his shame to Levine, labeling the assailants as "thugs." Levine remains determined to return to her work, stating, "They cracked my bones, they haven't cracked my spirit."