Masked Israeli settlers beat Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine in the occupied West Bank on Friday, then attacked a delegation of European diplomats in the village of Taybeh on Saturday. Israel's military and police say both attacks are under investigation, and the United States has called for prosecutions.
The attacks come during the olive harvest, when violence against Palestinian farmers typically rises, and nine days before Israel's election.
What happened to Heidi Levine?
On Friday morning, families were picking olives in Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah, when dozens of masked men came down from a nearby hilltop settlement, set groves on fire and threw stones, The Washington Post reported.
Levine, wearing a marked press vest, was knocked down, kicked and beaten with sticks, and her cameras and phone were taken. She suffered a broken rib, cuts across her body and a finger ripped open to the bone. She will need surgery on one hand.
American journalist Jasper Nathaniel and a blogger who filmed the assault helped her to safety. Another journalist at the scene said one Palestinian was wounded by gunfire.
Witnesses said soldiers who arrived fired tear gas at Palestinians, not settlers. The military says troops did not see the assault on Levine and that it is examining their conduct.
What happened in Taybeh?
On Saturday, masked settlers attacked a visiting group in Taybeh, a Christian village about 5 km northeast of Jerusalem, Euronews reported. According to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, the group included:
- Belgium's consul general
- French and Polish diplomats
- Catholic representatives
A French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle damaged. The Belgian team was safe.
The Israeli military called it a "severe act of violence" and said the visit had not been coordinated with it.
How have governments reacted?
| Who | What they said |
|---|---|
| Marco Rubio, US secretary of state | Washington is "very disturbed" and Israel must crack down |
| Mike Huckabee, US ambassador | Called the attack on Levine "cowardly" and urged prosecutions |
| Maxime Prévot, Belgian foreign minister | "Impunity for violent settlers must end"; will push for more EU sanctions |
| Gideon Saar, Israeli foreign minister | Condemned "severe acts of violence by Israeli rioters" |
| Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli PM | Said the facts of Friday's attack "remain unclear and are under investigation" |
| Matt Murray, Washington Post editor | Called for a thorough investigation |
Rubio also said that President Trump's decision to lift sanctions on settlers did not mean Washington supported such attacks.
How bad is settler violence this year?
| Settler attacks causing injury or damage, Jan.–Aug. 2026 (UN) | 1,600+ |
| Harvest-related settler attacks in 2025 (UN) | 178 |
| Killed since this year's harvest began (Palestinian Health Ministry) | at least 4 |
| Injured since harvest began | 100+ |
Prosecutions are rare. In August Israel indicted a settler for killing a Palestinian activist, the first such charge against an Israeli civilian since 2019, according to rights group Yesh Din.
Why it matters now
Israel votes on October 27, and opposition leader Yair Lapid said the attacks reflect government policy rather than a failure of it. Read our guide to Israel's election.
In Europe, Belgium's call for new EU sanctions on violent settlers will test whether other governments follow.
