Washington Post photojournalist wounded in West Bank clash between Israelis, Palestinians - report
Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was was reportedly wounded during a Friday altercation between extremist settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank.
Footage seen by The Jerusalem Post appears to show Levine kneeling on a path wearing a press jacket and helmet, as colleagues run over to her to carry her to safety.
The IDF and Israel Police have not yet issued a statement on the incident.
Palestinian media reported that Levine was beaten, sustaining fractures and cuts in the violence near Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah. Israeli sources have not independently verified this.
Levine, speaking from a hospital bed, said that she had been kicked "about 50 times," adding that if she hadn't been wearing her black jacket and helmet she "probably wouldn't be here at all, because they just kept kicking me again and again.
"After about 10 minutes, they tried to make me get up, they pushed me back to the ground and continued kicking me," she said. "I tried to hold on to my cameras and my side bag, but in the end they just ripped everything from me and kept kicking me."
Mateh Binyamin Regional Council accuses PA of bringing terrorists to attack Israelis
The Mateh Binyamin Regional Council provided a different course of events.
According to the council, the Palestinian Authority "led hundreds of anarchists and terrorists into a direct confrontation with Israelis near Abu Falah, all under the cover of the olive harvest."
"Footage from the scene shows terrorists launching fireworks directly at people and hurling stones at Israelis, while journalists stand behind them, documenting this deliberate provocation," the council said.
"The event was orchestrated by the PA; its patrol vehicles were present and highly visible at the scene, even though it is in Area B, where Israel holds responsibility for security," it added.
"Clashes broke out between Arabs and Israelis, eventually being dispersed by Border Police officers that arrived at the location. According to reports, several activists were injured during the confrontations," the council said.
The council did not explicitly comment on Levine's reported wounds.
The event was part of four incidents of nationalist-motivated violence and clashes between Israelis and Palestinians which were reported overnight and on Friday morning at several locations across the West Bank, including several olive groves.
The incidents reportedly involved vehicles being set on fire, attacks on Palestinian olive harvesters, and attacks on Palestinian homes.
In the village of Burin, a confrontation broke out during the olive harvest. Additional incidents were reported in the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah, and in Turmus Ayya. The incidents reportedly included at least four vehicles being set on fire, one of which was a civil defense vehicle, and attacks on Palestinian olive harvesters.
In a separate incident, shortly before midnight, settlers reportedly attacked Palestinian homes in the Wadi al-Sheikh area of the town of Beit Ummar, north of Hebron.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said that two wounded Palestinians, a 63-year-old woman and 40-year-old man, had been treated and taken to the hospital. Another Palestinian was reportedly shot in the knee.
Israel Police, Shin Bet launch manhunt for armed man in military uniform
Israeli security forces are working to chase down a possibly armed man in an olive grove near Kafr Kara, Israel Police announced on Friday.
The man is reportedly wearing a military uniform and carrying a rifle.
Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), Israel Police (including aerial forces), Border Police, and emergency response squad volunteers are among the security forces conducting the manhunt.