Washington Post journalist attacked in the West Bank, police investigating 

Heidi Levine, a photojournalist working for the Washington Post, was attacked in the West Bank on Friday while covering the annual olive harvest, she said Friday. She said she was attacked by Israeli settlers, with videos filmed by witnesses showing her being beaten on the ground by several men.

"Today, I was brutally attacked by ... I would say at least 50 masked men," a visibly injured and shaken Levine said from her hospital bed on Friday. "And when they came running down, I was attacked, pushed to the ground and luckily, I had my flak jacket and my helmet. Otherwise I probably wouldn't even be here because they just kept kicking me, and kicking me in, like, probably 50 times."

A group of journalists was filming Palestinians harvesting olives in Abu Falah, near Ramallah, in the West Bank, when dozens of masked men charged from a hill and attacked the group, according to witnesses' accounts.

In the videos posted online, settlers can be seen setting fire to the olive trees during the attack and then beating the journalist to the ground.

In a video filmed by journalist and activist, known as Andrey X, he and an American colleague, Jasper Nathaniel, run toward Levine, who is seen on the ground. They help her stand and run away from settlers charging them.

Levine, in the video, can be heard saying they took all her belongings and that she is struggling to stand on her feet.

The Washington Post condemned the violence and called for an investigation.

"This morning, a Washington Post photographer, Heidi Levine, was attacked by Israeli settlers while reporting in the West Bank," Matt Murray, Executive Editor of the Washington Post, said in a statement. "She was wearing visible markings clearly identifying her as a journalist. While we are relieved that Heidi has received medical care and is safe, we are outraged by this unwarranted attack on a journalist doing her job and urge a thorough investigation and follow-through from authorities."

The Israeli police said they had opened an investigation into the incident.

"Upon receiving the report, officers from the Judea and Samaria District and forensic investigators were dispatched," the police spokesperson's unit said. "They are currently preparing to enter the scenes, accompanied by IDF forces, to collect evidence and gather testimonies for the ongoing investigation."

"The Israel Police and the IDF view any act of violence with the utmost severity--particularly when directed at media personnel performing their professional duties," they added.

IDF was on the scene of the alleged incident, video cleared by ABC News shows.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called into question the version of events shared by the journalists but said in a statement Friday, "Israel unequivocally condemns violence against anyone—Jews, Arabs, Christians or journalists."

Netanyahu called for a full investigation into the incident.

"The facts surrounding the confrontation near Abu Falah, during which Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was allegedly assaulted, remain unclear and are under investigation," he said in a statement. "Those responsible will be held accountable. But serious questions remain."

The violence comes amid growing violence and instability in the West Bank, where the police and the Israeli army have often been accused by locals and activists of turning a blind eye or taking part in violence against Palestinians. In August, an NBC crew was attacked and a Palestinian woman was severely injured while covering the escalating violence.