European Diplomats Attacked by Israeli Settlers in West Bank

A delegation of European diplomats was attacked by masked Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, prompting condemnation from Belgium and an investigation by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The Israeli Prime Minister's office, however, cast doubt on the incident, suggesting it was part of a coordinated effort to "smear Israel."

The diplomats, representing Belgium, France, Poland, and the Catholic Church, visited the village of Taybeh near Ramallah to assess the situation following frequent settler attacks on Palestinians during the olive harvest. Video footage from the scene showed masked settlers confronting the convoy, with reports of stones being thrown. A car from the Belgian consulate had its window smashed, and a French mayor reported being assaulted.

Belgium's foreign minister, Maxime Prevot, condemned the attack and stated that Israel, as the occupying power, has a responsibility to protect Palestinians, diplomats, and journalists, and to bring those responsible to justice. He added that impunity for violent settlers must end and that Belgium would advocate for EU sanctions against those involved.

An Israeli official, Gideon Sa'ar, also condemned the violence, referring to the perpetrators as "Israeli rioters." However, he noted that the visit was not coordinated with the IDF in advance, which could have enhanced security. The IDF similarly condemned the "severe act of violence" and confirmed that no soldiers were present at the time of the attack.

Netanyahu's office urged caution in drawing conclusions from the incident, stating that social media images did not present the complete sequence of events or individual responsibility. They noted that an investigation was underway by Israeli police and forensic investigators. The Prime Minister's office also expressed concerns about a potential "coordinated campaign to smear Israel and the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria during the annual olive harvest, relying on sensational headlines before the full facts emerge."

The injured French official, identified as Bernard Baudoux, described the settlers as enraged and stated they kicked and beat him with iron bars. He characterized the attack as gratuitous and highlighted the ongoing suffering of the local population.

The incident occurred a day after a separate assault by settlers in another West Bank village injured several Palestinians and a photographer for The Washington Post.