In brief
European diplomats visiting Taybeh in the West Bank were attacked by masked Israeli settlers as they dispersed olive harvest wreaths. Belgium, France and Poland called for justice and EU sanctions, while Israeli leaders condemned the violence and urged caution in the narrative. The incident follows a separate assault on a French mayor and occurs amid heightened tensions over settler access to Palestinian farmland. Israeli military and police investigation continues, reflecting complex security dynamics in the region.
On Thursday, a convoy of European diplomats, representing Belgium, France, Poland and the Catholic Church, came under attack by masked Israeli settlers in the Christian village of Taybeh near Ramallah in the West Bank.
The assault, characterised by stone‑throwing and smashing of a consular vehicle, prompted immediate condemnation from the Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot and France’s diplomatic officials.
Belgium called on Israel to bring the perpetrators to justice and said it would pursue EU sanctions, arguing that the attack underscored ongoing settler violence during the annual olive harvest.
Israeli officials, including Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and the Interior Ministry, condemned the incident as “acts of rioting by Israeli settlers,” while the Prime Minister’s office urged caution, suggesting the footage could be part of a smear campaign.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also condemned the “severe act of violence” and announced an investigation, noting that no IDF troops were present at the scene.
The event follows a separate assault a day earlier in which a French mayor, Bernard Baudoux, was beaten by settlers, and comes amid escalating tensions over Palestinian farmers’ access to olive harvests.
International responses highlight the complex dynamics of settler‑state relations, the responsibilities of occupying powers to protect foreign diplomats, and divergent narratives regarding accountability and security measures in the West Bank.
