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Tess Scheflan, a photographer on assignment for Haaretz, being treated by an IDF medic after being assaulted by a soldier in the West Bank city of Hebron on Saturday. (Oren Ziv / Jini)
Last update - 14:19 07/12/2008
Israeli soldier allegedly assaults Haaretz photographer in Hebron
By Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Israel News, Hebron 

An Israeli photographer on assignment for Haaretz was assaulted by an Israel Defense Forces soldier in Hebron on Saturday. The photographer, Tess Scheflan, suffered light head injuries and was taken by an ambulance to hospital.

The IDF issued a response later Saturday, apologizing for the assault and emphasizing its stance that the soldier acted inappropriately, even if it emerges that he struck her after being attacked.

The response went on to say that the initial investigation into the incident revealed conflicting versions of the events as recounted by the photographer and the soldiers at the scene.
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Scheflan, who is a staffer for the Jini photo news agency, had been staying in Hebron over the weekend, alongside Haaretz reporter Fadi Eyadat and another photographer, to cover the Palestinian families whose homes had been temporarily commandeered by IDF soldiers during the forced eviction of settlers from a disputed home in the West Bank city.

When they went outside on Saturday, Eyadat recounted, they saw three soldiers. Scheflan took their picture. The soldiers then tried to take away the camera of the second photographer. Scheflan then took a picture of the soldier trying to snatch her associate's camera. The soldier then allegedly punched her in the face and hit her with the butt of his rifle while she was on the ground.

Shortly afterward, Scheflan received treatment at the scene from an IDF medic. She was subsequently transferred by ambulance to Sha'arei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem.

According to the IDF, the soldier said that Scheflan had attacked him first and he had only hit her back.

The IDF spokesman's office said that an in-depth investigation has been launched, and two senior IDF officials had been dispatched to the hospital "to see how the photographer is doing and to question her personally."

The IDF added that the photographer was examined at the scene by a medic but refused to be examined by an IDF doctor, and "refused to be taken in a military ambulance used by settlers, and eventually was taken by a Magen David Adom ambulance."

The IDF also said that the soldiers involved in the incident said that the photographer was wearing stickers bearing the emblem of the human rights group B'Tselem.

"Violence in Hebron is not something that is unheard of," Scheflan said. "I've been doing this job for years and know how to behave in these situations. But I thought the soldier would at least have explained why we weren't allowed to take photos."

The soldier who allegedly assaulted the photographer is an infantryman serving in the Haruv battalion.

On Thursday, as IDF forces evacuated the settlers from the disputed house, Haaretz Correspondent Avi Issacharoff was a hit by a stone hurled by a group of masked settlers who surrounded a Palestinian home in the city, setting laundry on fire and pelting it with rocks.

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      1.   See, Haaretzis? Time is over when you still could pretend that 13:40  |  Andreas 06/12/08
      2.   One can discuss whether IDF soldiers are acting more brutally.... 13:58  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/12/08
      3.   A brave IDF soldier 14:03  |  Robin 06/12/08
      4.   Inadvertent "achievement" of the settlers... 14:09  |  Esther 06/12/08
      5.   Now it is against our IDF... 14:10  |  Civilian 06/12/08
      6.   Hiding the truth 14:17  |  dovale 06/12/08
      7.   "Scheflan then remarked something to the soldier, who responded 14:18  |  17 06/12/08
      8.   The brave IDF? 14:25  |  Steven 06/12/08
      9.   #7 14:38  |  tucking_fwit 06/12/08
      10.   #6 & #7 14:45  |  Fiachra 06/12/08
      11.   Soldier assaults photographer..... 14:56  |  Miriam 06/12/08
      12.   Swiss (Dino) do you know the difference between... 14:58  |  Israeli citizen 06/12/08
      13.   Esther re "aura" or pall over Hebron - 15:01  |  Miriam 06/12/08
      14.   See? The soldiers are confused 15:12  |  lady from USA 06/12/08
      15.   This is a normal recurring . 15:34  |  Benny 06/12/08
      16.   More to come, until something is done. 15:37  |  Dougl Mc. 06/12/08
      17.   #6/7. A prof. soldiers is suppose to remain CALM 15:45  |  Barbara 06/12/08
      18.   to Miss Tess Schefian, I wish you a speedy recovery 15:50  |  Adamson 06/12/08
      19.   #11 Miriam 15:55  |  Boycott 06/12/08
      20.   #11 Miriam 16:02  |  Wolf 06/12/08
      21.   don`t put soilders life in jeopredy for a few cheap shots 16:04  |  mike 06/12/08
      22.   Had this been a western country everyone would be shocked 16:06  |  Magnus K. 06/12/08
      23.   Miriam #13.... 16:12  |  Esther 06/12/08
      24.   You are no better than us 16:13  |  Marwan 06/12/08
      25.   What a coward. 16:19  |  Lou Medel 06/12/08
      26.   The Invincible IDF 16:26  |  Edward 06/12/08
      27.   #8 Stephen 16:39  |  Michael 06/12/08
      28.   Imagine the imagination of Clickfool 16:46  |  Israeli cititzen 06/12/08
      29.   Ha`aretz`s accountability 16:50  |  THK 06/12/08
      30.   #15 Clickfool - No need to imagine 16:52  |  *BEN JABO 06/12/08
      31.   Marwan #25 - ouch! 16:53  |  PS 06/12/08
      32.   Our Army Isn`t Perfect Either 16:54  |  Yosemite 06/12/08
      33.   # 12 Israeli citizen, don`t worry, the gap in this case.... 16:59  |  Swiss (Dino) 06/12/08
      34.   #26 Lou Medal - Same could be said for you 17:00  |  *BEN JABO 06/12/08
      35.   Clearly an obstruction from freedom of the press... 17:13  |  Smadar 06/12/08
      36.   Only Palestinians have rights 17:24  |  Great White North 06/12/08
      37.   Shows clearly ... 17:25  |  Axel 06/12/08
      38.   Michael trims the encomium 17:35  |  hollingsworth 06/12/08
      39.   #22, Mike in LA, you think it`s better not to report this? 17:38  |  newageblues 06/12/08
      40.   Tess Scheflan, treated like human scum... 17:53  |  BBSNews 06/12/08
      41.   Soldiers and women 18:01  |  Choni 06/12/08
      42.   To # 7 18:08  |  NY 06/12/08
      43.   Magnus K._ Get Off Your High Horse About Western Democracies 18:09  |  Eli 06/12/08
      44.   Civilian 18:11  |  Persian Kitty 06/12/08
      45.   reporters 18:19  |  shimon 06/12/08
      46.   #18, Barbara, a professional soldier is supposed to stay CALM- 18:23  |  newageblues 06/12/08
      47.   Not cool to do that. 18:26  |  cfs 06/12/08
      48.   Do not blame 18:42  |  Photographer 06/12/08
      49.   Lou #26 what did you comment when IDF brutally evicted Jews? 18:48  |  Genuine Tosefta 06/12/08
      50.   Of course hit the girl was not appropriate, of course 18:50  |  17 06/12/08
      51.   Some moral army... 18:52  |  Dutch 06/12/08
      52.   Shabbat Shalom 18:53  |  Charlie 06/12/08
      53.   Awwwwwwww 18:56  |  Lisa Levy 06/12/08
      54.   Choni #35... to their credit or their chagrin... 19:07  |  Esther 06/12/08
      55.   # Marwan - and no better than Prince Ernst August of Hanover 19:10  |  Anna 06/12/08
      56.   Tess Scheflan is a member of an ISM affiliate, ActiveStills 19:20  |  Genuine Tosefta 06/12/08
      57.   Re: Only Palestinians have rights 19:28  |  Oriv 06/12/08
      58.   Lisa, Haaretz also did an entire piece on Amira Hass 19:29  |  Genuine Tosefta 06/12/08
      59.   Let`s put a lid on things 19:30  |  Warschkow 06/12/08
      60.   But Haaretz didn`t complain when soldiers assaulted Hebron Jews! 19:32  |  Moshe 06/12/08
      61.   Army vs. Police 19:34  |  Jacob Aftel 06/12/08
      62.   # 37 eli 19:35  |  Axel 06/12/08
      63.   Re: Do not blame 19:35  |  Oriv 06/12/08
      64.   # 44 gt 19:39  |  Axel 06/12/08
      65.   More proof the occupation must end 19:40  |  MarkC 06/12/08
      66.   I`d love to see the pic. she took that peed him off 19:46  |  jBrown 06/12/08
      67.   #35 Choni, yes I have seen girls/women in Gush Katif 19:55  |  JustMe 06/12/08
      68.   Assault on Journalist 20:05  |  Jackson 06/12/08
      69.   #35 Choni #50 Moshe - Hebron settlers vs Haaretz reporter 20:09  |  Reuben 06/12/08
      70.   Maybe he thougth she was a settler? 20:09  |  CW 06/12/08
      71.   Civilian 20:15  |  A.M. 06/12/08
      72.   IDF acting as a revenge against a 20:18  |  imad 06/12/08
      73.   haaretz photographer 20:18  |  yosef ben-zvi 06/12/08
      74.   The occupiers are the Arabs 20:21  |  Levi 06/12/08
      75.   Haaretz photographer 20:24  |  Ralph 06/12/08
      76.   Gaulaiter Axel wants to be a Jewish overseer once again 20:25  |  Absolute Sweden 06/12/08
      77.   Moshe your squatters are mad dogs that should be put down 20:26  |  not coddled 06/12/08
      78.   This girl looks tiny 20:27  |  Clickfool 06/12/08
      79.   IDF issues an apology for the assault? 20:35  |  Northern 06/12/08
      80.   to Civilian #5 20:40  |  Northern 06/12/08
      81.   JustU,how do U know that this ISM affiliate member not aggressive 20:41  |  Genuine Tosefta 06/12/08
      82.   axel "there are more civilised societies" 20:45  |  erwin honigstein 06/12/08
      83.   axel "jews regard themselves above the law" 20:47  |  erwin honigstein 06/12/08
      84.   clickfool "idf soldier punched her" 20:49  |  brighton rock 06/12/08
      85.   clickfool "idf soldier is a cowardly punk" 20:50  |  brighton rock 06/12/08
      86.   Reporters and Soldiers 21:12  |  Miguel 06/12/08
      87.   al-Quds Palestine is where my mother was born 21:12  |  Karim 06/12/08
      88.   I was always taught 21:16  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/12/08
      89.   #5 Civilian. The IDF does not apologize to a "one side story." 21:22  |  Maureen Ann 06/12/08
      90.   There you are, Absolute Sweden, with some meaningless drivel 21:30  |  Clickfool 06/12/08
      91.   The IDF: How art the mighty fallen 21:34  |  Clickfool 06/12/08
      92.   Moral Cowardice 21:39  |  Mikesailor 06/12/08
      93.   The required punishment for this IDF punk 21:41  |  Clickfool 06/12/08
      94.   The soldier should be reprimanded... 21:42  |  Dutch 06/12/08
      95.   For Levi # 77 21:51  |  Clickfool 06/12/08
      96.   What did she say? It`s a fair question. 2nd Try 22:17  |  DOC HOLLIDAY 06/12/08
      97.   tess`s blog spot 22:24  |  seems nice 06/12/08
      98.   Brighton, try and stay focused... 22:26  |  BBSNews 06/12/08
      99.   How funny... 22:30  |  Texan 06/12/08
      100.   For the ridiculous Doc Holliday # 99 22:46  |  Clickfool 06/12/08
      101.   A personal apology is in order 22:49  |  Lars Cromander 06/12/08
      102.   Fanatic readers are supporting this barberic act 22:51  |  kia 06/12/08
      103.   Israeli soldier assaults woman photog 22:55  |  Paul 06/12/08
      104.   Time for objective reporting perhaps? 22:59  |  Hannah 06/12/08
      105.   Tender Mercies of Hamas 23:00  |  Ron 06/12/08
      106.   clickfool a word... 23:07  |  dutch 06/12/08
      107.   clickfool "the fantasy heroes of zionists" 23:11  |  brighton rock 06/12/08
      108.   clickfool musnt forget the platoon of paras 23:14  |  brighton rock 06/12/08
      109.   bbs news i hear the red indians scalped their wives 23:18  |  brighton rock 06/12/08
      110.   Hahaha #110 23:25  |  Jewish Sharpshooter 06/12/08
      111.   Kia, #105, you`re so right 23:36  |  Fiona 06/12/08
      112.   How objective can she be with a BTselem sticker on? 23:46  |  McQueen 06/12/08
      113.   Israeli photographer vis IDF with gun butt 00:08  |  Anne Adams 07/12/08
      114.   Tess Sch. 00:09  |  ADGroup 07/12/08
      115.   Police? 00:10  |  Max Weinberg 07/12/08
      116.   Israeli photographer vis IDF with gun butt 00:12  |  Anne Adams 07/12/08
      117.   THIS IS A DIRECT THREAT AGAINST HAARETZ REPORTS 00:15  |  indrajaya 07/12/08
      118.   For our chortling "Jewish Sharpshooter" # 113 00:21  |  Clickfool 07/12/08
      119.   Barbara, there is no respect for women, it is a myth 00:33  |  Maria Sent 07/12/08
      120.   Who is tess sheflan? 00:58  |  Arie 07/12/08
      121.   Thanks for adding "allegedly" 00:58  |  David Scott 07/12/08
      122.   Produce the btselem video and prove your case 01:00  |  Arie 07/12/08
      123.   Interesting picture 01:04  |  Arie 07/12/08
      124.   oh poor Tess, you are pretty, look what they`ve done to you 01:27  |  Tamir Palestine 07/12/08
      125.   Bashing a girl 01:38  |  ted heath 07/12/08
      126.   #115 McQueen 01:47  |  Boycott 07/12/08
      127.   Thank God we have David Scott 02:20  |  Matt 07/12/08
      128.   Haaretz At Least you had the decency to write:Allegedly! 02:23  |  Israeli 07/12/08
      129.   Ted, does New Zealand see much action? 02:30  |  Hannah 07/12/08
      130.   #36 Ben Jabo 02:34  |  Lou Medel 07/12/08
      131.   #118 Arie. Was it payback time? 02:35  |  Maureen Ann 07/12/08
      132.   Not again... 03:03  |  PATRIOT 07/12/08
      133.   #96 Clickfool In This Instance 04:51  |  Yosemite 07/12/08
      134.   how it started 05:29  |  lexie 07/12/08
      135.   #135 PATRIOT ..Not again..You`re telling me! 05:40  |  Benny 07/12/08
      136.   With love from Al-Quds, Palestine 05:46  |  Steve 07/12/08
      137.   If you bash your head against a wall in New Zealand 05:54  |  Steve 07/12/08
      138.   Was it taunting? 06:28  |  alan the real one 07/12/08
      139.   re 42 How quickly we forget old BBS 06:33  |  alan the real one 07/12/08
      140.   Sad, but Haaretz reports are no longer considered credible 06:34  |  Raquel 07/12/08
      141.   oh what a brave idf soldier he is... 07:50  |  eric 07/12/08
      142.   i guess the soldiers DID have cause to fear the cameras, though 07:59  |  eric 07/12/08
      143.   excuse me?? do the b`tselem stickers make a difference? 08:13  |  eric 07/12/08
      144.   # 56 to lisa levy re: "religious women" 09:05  |  eric 07/12/08
      145.   For "Alan the Real One" # 141 10:25  |  Clickfool 07/12/08
      146.   She was treated by IDF medics 11:21  |  A 07/12/08
      147.   It sounds like Ben Jabo is describing himself at last in Post 34 13:08  |  Reflex 07/12/08
      148.   Axel # 62 _ The Killing In Greece Makes My Point 22:59  |  Eli 07/12/08
      149.   #129 Hannah 23:47  |  Tony Price 07/12/08
      150.   persian kitty #44 when you get iran,the country your ALWAYS 01:31  |  terrornator 08/12/08
      151.   anti democratic IDF norms 07:29  |  Arieh 08/12/08
      152.   HaAretz - Tell it like it should be told!!! 08:37  |  * BEN JABO 08/12/08
      153.   #147 2ND TRY Reflex - If it sounds like 16:51  |  *BEN JABO 08/12/08
      154.   #141 Eric - Oh what a brave bystander you are 17:33  |  *BEN JABO 08/12/08
      155.   #17 2ND TRY Barbara 02:10  |  * BEN JABO 09/12/08
      156.   Old News! Activist Posing as Media 13:04  |  Baruch Gold 15/12/08
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