Israeli Police Arrest 10 After Attacks on Journalist, Diplomats
Photojournalist Heidi Levine severely injured covering olive harvest amid escalating West Bank violence.
Sarah Connor
Israeli police arrested 10 suspects in connection with recent attacks on a journalist and European diplomats.
The attack on Levine unfolded amidst a surge in settler violence across the West Bank. UN records show this violence reached an all-time high.
Israeli human rights group Yesh Din documented 269 incidents of violence related to the olive harvest in the 20 days preceding the report.
Separately, European diplomats from France, Belgium, and Poland also faced attacks on Saturday. Belgium's Foreign Minister confirmed damage to a car from its consulate and an assault on a French mayor.
Israeli rioters
Authorities detained suspects on charges of violence, violating a closed military zone order, and illegal construction. Police, military forces, and the Shin Bet domestic security service participated in the operation.
A court extended the detention of six men connected to the attacks on foreigners for three to four days. Police released a video of the operation, which showed at least one arrested suspect wearing tzitzit and two slingshots found at one property.
A delegation of Belgian, French, Polish, and Catholic Church envoys had visited Taybeh to observe an olive harvest. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and the military blamed "Israeli rioters" for the attack on the diplomats.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned "violence against anyone" but referred to the attack as "alleged." He also suggested diplomats entered a sensitive area without military clearance.
The Office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the incidents in Abu Falah and Taybeh came amid what it called a "co-ordinated campaign to smear Israel" and West Bank settlers. However, the United States, France, Belgium, and Poland called on Israel to take action against settler violence.