Wounded Photographer Heidi Levine Says Netanyahu’s Response Insulting

Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine, severely injured in a settler attack in the occupied West Bank, has expressed anger and said she felt insulted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s response. She accused Israel’s military of appearing to protect settlers more than Palestinians.�
Levine was attacked on Thursday while covering the olive harvest in the village of Abu Falah, suffering several broken vertebrae. Speaking to the Associated Press from her hospital bed, she said Netanyahu’s description of the assault as “alleged” shocked and insulted her, adding that the prime minister “had all the evidence on the table.”�
Netanyahu condemned settler violence in general, but described the facts of the attack as “unclear and under investigation,” despite video footage documenting the assault.�
Levine said Israeli President Isaac Herzog called her to express shame, while more than a dozen former Israeli security and intelligence officials sent her a signed letter condemning the attack. Signatories included former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo and former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon.�
The letter said “Jewish terrorists” in the West Bank were inflicting suffering on innocent Palestinians and that their brutality brought disgrace upon Israel and the Jewish people. It called for a fundamental policy change, saying senior government officials’ encouragement had helped sustain the situation.�
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the attack on Levine “a despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards,” saying the attackers should face years in prison.�
Rights groups say hundreds of Palestinians have been attacked since the olive harvest season began, with olive trees also destroyed. Levine urged Netanyahu to act, saying the attackers broke her bones but could not break her resolve.�