Israel police arrest suspects over settler attacks

Israeli police arrest 10 suspects over settler attacks on US journalist and European diplomats in the occupied West Bank.

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Israeli police have arrested 10 suspects in connection with a wave of settler attacks in the occupied West Bank over the weekend, including attacks on a US photojournalist and European diplomats.

The suspects were detained early on Monday, on suspicion of involvement in acts of violence, violating a closed military zone order, and illegal construction, Israeli police said.

The arrests coincide with a surge in Israeli settler attacks disrupting the annual Palestinian olive harvest in the occupied West Bank, with at least 170 attacks reported since September 27, according to Israeli human rights group Yesh Din.

Rising settler violence against Palestinians has prompted an international outcry, with the United Kingdom describing it as “ethnic cleansing” and imposing sanctions on products from illegal Israeli settlements.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said on X that the arrests were ‘a very positive development’ in finding and punishing those who severely attacked and beat the Washington Post photojournalist, Heidi Levine.

Levine was beaten by a group of male settlers in the village of Abu Falah in the occupied West Bank, leaving her with several broken ribs and vertebrae, and underwent surgery on a finger that was nearly severed and is recovering from what appeared to be stab wounds to her lower body, which required stitches.

A day later, masked settlers attacked European diplomats visiting the Christian village of Taybeh, prompting condemnation from the United States, France, Belgium, and Poland, whose delegates were attacked.