Settlers attack photographer, CPT worker

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Christian Peacemaker Teams worker Jan Benvie tries to get a stolen camera from an Israeli settler (just before he punched her in the face).

On Oct. 18, four Israeli settlers beat up a Palestinian reporter, Abed Hashlamoun, near Hebron.

He required hospital treatment for his injuries. Hashlamoun had been photographing Palestinians, Israelis and internationals harvesting olives together in an event organized by landowners. Hashlamoun was walking alone through the olive groves when male settlers knocked him to the ground and beat and kicked him.

Several olive pickers heard his cries and ran to help him. One of the settlers seized Hashlamoun’s camera. 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 made the Israeli and international olive pickers leave the area.

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