Israeli settlers attack Palestinians & CPTer

Israeli settlers attack Palestinians:
"10-19-2008"

Related News Item:
Israeli Settlers Beat up Palestinian Reporter During Olive Harvest, Punch CPTer
CPT
19 October 2008
HEBRON: Israeli settlers beat up Palestinian reporter during olive harvest, punch CPTer

On the morning of Saturday 18 October 2008, a group of four Israeli settlers beat up a Palestinian reporter, Abed Hashlamoun, in the Tel Rumeida area of Hebron. He required hospital treatment for his injuries.

Hashlamoun had been photographing Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals harvesting olives together in an event organized by Tel Rumeida landowners. Hashlamoun was walking alone through the olive groves when male settlers knocked him to the ground and began beating and kicking him.

Several of the olive pickers heard his cries and ran to help him. One of the settlers seized Hashlamoun’s camera. CPTer Janet Benvie approached the settler and asked him to return the camera, but he did not respond. When Benvie took hold of the camera strap the young man punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground. He then hurled the camera into the rocky field below.

The settlers were still nearby when Israeli soldiers arrived. “I repeatedly asked the soldiers to detain the men who attacked us, but instead they permitted the attackers to leave the scene,” said Benvie.

The Israeli military declared the area a closed military zone, ordered an end to the olive picking, and required the Israeli and international olive pickers to leave the area.

Photographs are available at http://cpt.org/gallery/album261

Hashlamoun was taken to hospital for treatment, but released shortly after. Benvie sustained a cut and bruising to her face, but did not require medical treatment.