West Bank: Dozens of Israeli settlers, dressed in black with their faces masked, burned olive trees and threw rocks at Palestinians during a coordinated attack on an annual harvest in a West Bank village on Friday. At least two people, including a journalist, were injured.
Around 80 settlers, some carrying gas canisters, descended from a hill above a terraced olive grove where villagers from Abu Falah had gathered to pick ripe olives, a cherished annual tradition in Palestinian life, Reuters witnesses said.
The settlers positioned themselves in front of the terraced rows of olive trees. Some used slings to launch rocks at Palestinian villagers, who moved towards the bottom of the hill before picking up and throwing stones in an attempt to defend themselves.
The attack continued after Israeli troops arrived. Soldiers fired tear gas towards Palestinians who had moved away from the military jeeps. The sound of live gunfire could be heard in the area, and a Reuters photographer saw at least one armed settler fire a gun.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Palestinian medics said two people were injured and taken to hospitals in the Ramallah area. One of them was Heidi Levine, a photojournalist with The Washington Post. The newspaper did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
