Violence by Israeli settlers is escalating in the occupied West Bank, with attacks targeting Palestinians as well as foreign journalists and diplomats. The incidents have prompted international reactions and led to the arrest of ten suspects by Israeli authorities.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, at least four people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the olive harvest began in early October. The harvest is of particular cultural and economic importance to Palestinians, providing a major source of income for hundreds of villages. Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din has recorded at least 170 settler attacks since September 27.
The olive harvest is culturally and economically important to Palestinians, providing a source of income for hundreds of villages.
On Friday, October 16, dozens of masked settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives near the village of Khirbet Abu Falah, using stones and clubs and setting olive trees on fire. Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist for The Washington Post who was covering the harvest, was seriously injured and required hospital treatment.
On Saturday, masked settlers attacked French, Belgian, and Polish diplomats, representatives of the Catholic Church, and a French mayor in the village of Taybeh. A Belgian diplomatic vehicle was also damaged.
Following pressure from the US and European governments, Israeli police announced the arrest of ten suspects on Monday, October 19, without specifying their individual involvement in the attacks.
Sources: Associated Press, Reuters, The New York Times
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