Israeli settlers burn trees, hurt reporter in West Bank

Dozens of militant Israeli settlers have burned olive trees and thrown rocks at Palestinians in a co-ordinated attack on a village's harvest in the Israeli-occupied West Bank that injured at least two people, including a journalist.

Some 80 settlers, some of them carrying gas canisters, descended from a hill above a terraced olive grove where villagers from Abu Falah had gathered to pick ripe fruit, a cherished annual tradition in Palestinian life, Reuters witnesses said.

The settlers took positions in front of the terraced lanes of olive trees. Some of them used slings to launch rocks towards Palestinian villagers, who descended towards the bottom of the hill before picking up and throwing stones to defend themselves.

"The settlers want to attack us and force us from our homes," said Moutaz Abdelhadi, 42, a farmer who witnessed the attack in Abu Falah.

Partway through the attack, at least two Israeli military jeeps sped through the area, kicking up dust as villagers ran out of their way.

The attack continued after the military's arrival, with Israeli soldiers firing tear gas in the direction of the Palestinians who had dodged the 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.

In a statement, the Israeli military said soldiers and border police fired what it described as warning shots after deploying to the area and at one point fired towards a person who the troops believed had posed a threat.

"Attempts to incite friction between populations undermine security in the area," the military said. "Attacks and violence against innocent civilians are grave and unacceptable," it added.

Palestinian medics said two people were injured and taken to hospitals in the area of Ramallah. One of them was Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist with the Washington Post. Video of the attack showed Levine lying on her side on a dirt path with her hands over her face as at least three settlers surrounded her.

Speaking from a hospital bed later, Levine, who is in stable condition, said: "I was attacked, pushed to the ground. Luckily I had my flak jacket and helmet, otherwise I probably wouldn't even be here, because they just kept kicking me and kicking me."

The Washington Post later reported she suffered lacerations across her body and a broken rib, and would need surgery on one hand after a finger was ripped open, exposing bone.

Matt Murray, the Washington Post's executive editor, called for an investigation into the incident.

The US State Department said it condemned criminal violence by any party in the West Bank and supported holding the perpetrators accountable.

Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has surged, with at least 170 attacks since September 27, around the start of the annual olive harvest, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group.