Netanyahu Casts Doubt on Settler Attack That Hospitalized US Journalist

Levine, a 63-year-old veteran journalist, was covering Palestinian farmers during their harvest when a group of approximately 80 settlers arrived. Armed with rocks, clubs, and rifles, the group set fire to olive trees and assaulted those present. Despite wearing a helmet and a blue vest clearly marked "PRESS," Levine was knocked to the ground, kicked repeatedly, and robbed of her equipment.

Netanyahu’s office responded by labeling the event a "confrontation" and casting doubt on the sequence of events. Officials claimed that footage showed masked individuals on both sides hurling objects and suggested that Levine was assisted by an unidentified person immediately after falling. This narrative was swiftly rejected by Washington Post executive editor Matt Murray, who stated, "Some facts are neither in dispute nor unclear. Our photographer was clearly marked as press. She was clearly beaten."

Critics, including US senators and international observers, argue that this response reflects a broader pattern of state-enabled impunity for settler violence. While the Israeli government maintains that it will hold perpetrators accountable, eyewitnesses, including journalist Oren Ziv, reported that Israeli military forces present at the scene failed to intervene. Levine remains skeptical of any legal resolution, telling reporters, "Sadly, none of them will be prosecuted. I am sure of it."