Netanyahu calls for probe into attack on journalist

Summary

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called for an investigation into who initiated violence in an attack on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine in Abu Falah, in the occupied West Bank, saying the facts remain unclear. Middle East Eye reports that witnesses said about 80 masked Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian olive pickers and Levine, who was hospitalized; Levine said she was beaten repeatedly. Netanyahu’s office cited reports of about 200 Arabs and left-wing activists confronting around 40 Israeli youths, while witnesses described settlers attacking the group.

Timeline

1. Middle East Eye

   16 Oct 2026, 14:46 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that Palestinians and Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine were wounded in an attack by masked Israeli settlers in Abu Falah, and that Levine was hospitalized.

2. Middle East Eye

   16 Oct 2026, 17:20 UTCSource ↗

   Middle East Eye reports that Netanyahu’s office called for an investigation into who initiated the violence, saying the facts were unclear and citing reports that about 200 Arabs and left-wing activists confronted around 40 Israeli youths.