Israel: Arrests After Settlers Attack on Journalists and Diplomats · Global Voices
On several occasions, radical settlers in the occupied West Bank have attacked people, including visitors and reporters from the USA and Europe. Following international protests, several suspects have now been arrested.
Israeli flag set up by settlers in West Bank
Israeli security forces have arrested ten suspected settlers in connection with attacks on a US photographer and European diplomats in the West Bank. The alleged participants in the violence at the weekend would now be heard, it said in a statement of the police.
Israeli forces also seized vehicles in the raid in several locations in the occupied West Bank. They also seized items intended to link the suspects to the attacks.
On Friday, US photographer Heidi Levine was injured by the Washington Post in an alleged settler attack. Dozens of masked Israeli settlers reportedly attacked Palestinians in the olive harvest. Levine, who can be seen on footage of the incident with a protective vest bearing the words “PRESS”, documented the violence. According to the Washington Post, settlers finally pushed them to the ground and kicked them. There was also sharp criticism of the violence from the USA.
On Saturday, in another incident, radical Israeli settlers attacked vehicles of European diplomats in the West Bank. The masked attackers reportedly smashed a window of a diplomatic vehicle. Video footage showed a diplomat lying on the ground. France, Belgium and Poland condemned the violence against their citizens, as did the European Union.
The situation in the occupied West Bank has developed since the Hamas massacre on 7 November. October 2023 in Israel and the resulting Gaza war once again intensified. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, armed conflicts or attacks in the West Bank since then. At the same time, the violence of radical Israeli settlers against Palestinians has greatly increased.
Currently, there are almost daily reports of attacks on Palestinians or their property. According to the human rights organization Yesh Din, there have been since the 27. In September, at least 170 settlers attacked Palestinians. Israel’s military and police are repeatedly accused of not acting decisively enough. Few incidents end with convictions.
Source: Spiegel ›
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