Israel's security services arrested 10 suspects early Monday morning in connection with the violent events that occurred over the weekend in the West Bank, which included an attack on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine.
The operation, dubbed Operation Olive Leaf, was carried out in cooperation with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), Border Police, and the IDF.
In addition to the arrests, several vehicles were confiscated, and illegal construction was cleared out.
The suspects were transferred for questioning, and security forces are continuing to investigate the settler extremist-led violence of the weekend.
Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy said, “The law in Judea and Samaria applies to everyone, regardless of identity or affiliation. The Israel Police is committed to professional, equal, and impartial law enforcement, based on evidence and in accordance with the law."
He continued, saying, “At the same time, a distinction must be made between responsibility for preventing incidents in the field and responsibility for investigating and enforcing the law after they occur. We will continue to coordinate with all security agencies to strengthen security and the rule of law and ensure that anyone found to have violated the law is brought to justice.”
Demands for investigation, arrests met
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee on Saturday night called for the investigation, arrest, and prosecution "to the fullest extent of the law" of the participants in the attack on photojournalist Heidi Levine.
The Israel-based Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was wounded during a Friday altercation between extremist settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank.
Levine sustained injuries to her limbs, according to medical information provided. Speaking to Walla, she said she had also suffered injuries to her back and a rib, describing a prolonged assault during which her cameras and personal belongings were stolen.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the incident on Friday, saying that "those responsible will be brought to justice."
Additionally, masked settlers allegedly attacked European diplomats who were present during attacks on Palestinian olive harvesters near the village of Taybeh in the West Bank.
The Belgian Foreign Affairs minister, Maxime Prevot, condemned the attack and added that the Belgian government will continue to push for sanctions against "those responsible for this violence and those who support them."
In a subsequent statement concerning the reported attack on diplomats in the West Bank, Israel Police said, "The Binyamin Police Station in the Judea and Samaria District has opened an investigation into an assault following footage circulated online showing an attack on several diplomats who were in the area of the village of Taybeh.
IDF, police expand crack-down on nationalist violence
The IDF, Border Police, and Israel Police have, more generally, intensified efforts to combat lawbreakers and rising nationalist violence in the West Bank, with an average of seven to 10 illegal outposts evacuated each week in recent weeks.
The IDF's Central Command plans to further increase the number of evacuations in the coming weeks as security forces struggle to prevent repeat offenses.
Jonah Davidov and Avi Ashkenazi contributed to this report.