Israeli Settlers Attack European Diplomats in West Bank

Masked Israeli settlers attacked a convoy of European diplomats and Palestinian residents in the West Bank village of Taybeh on Saturday. The assailants, who used iron bars, beat Bernard Baudoux, the mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, France, and smashed the window of a Belgian diplomatic vehicle. Other victims included representatives from Poland and Belgium, as well as a teenager and an elderly woman. The attack occurred during the annual olive harvest while Mayor Baudoux was visiting to sign a goodwill cooperation agreement.

This incident followed a Friday attack in Abu Falah, where settlers severely beat Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine, leaving her with broken vertebrae and ribs. The violence comes amid escalating tensions over the harvest and ahead of Israeli elections on October 27.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot demanded that Israel halt the criminal violence and arrest those responsible. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called violence against diplomats unacceptable but cautioned against drawing premature conclusions, suggesting a smear campaign against settlers. He also noted that the diplomats had not coordinated their visit with the military. While the Israel Defense Forces and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the violence, political rival Gadi Eisenkot characterized the acts as state-sponsored terrorism.