Envoys from Belgium, France and Poland were confronted near Taybeh, prompting an Israeli police inquiry and a diplomatic dispute.
Masked Israeli settlers attacked a delegation of European diplomats visiting the West Bank village of Taybeh on Saturday, damaging a vehicle and assaulting a French mayor, according to BBC News.
Diplomats confronted in Taybeh
The visiting group included representatives from Belgium, France, Poland and the Catholic Church. They traveled to Taybeh, a largely Christian village near Ramallah, to observe conditions during the annual olive harvest following repeated settler attacks on Palestinian farmers.
Video recorded at the scene showed masked individuals confronting the diplomatic convoy, and reports indicated that stones were thrown during the encounter.
A vehicle belonging to the Belgian consulate had its window smashed, and Bernard Baudoux, the mayor of the northern French town of Aulnoye-Aymeries, was assaulted, CBS News reported. Baudoux told Agence France-Presse that attackers kicked him, struck him with iron bars and threw him to the ground. He said he didn’t suffer serious injuries, though he described the assailants as arriving completely enraged. “The whole world needs to know what’s happening there,” Baudoux said, adding that while he could return safely to France, local residents continue to endure violence.
European officials demand accountability
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said settlers targeted Belgium’s consul general, French and Polish diplomats, and Catholic representatives. Prevot confirmed that the Belgian personnel were safe. He tied the incident to Israel’s settlement policy and said that as the occupying power, Israeli authorities must safeguard Palestinians, protect visiting diplomats and journalists, and prosecute those responsible. He also said Belgium will continue pushing for European Union sanctions against violent settlers and their supporters.
Poland’s foreign ministry confirmed the confrontation and said its representatives were unharmed. Polish officials stated there was no sign their envoys were specifically targeted, though preliminary information pointed to settlers as the perpetrators. The ministry strongly condemned the attack, reiterating that violence against diplomatic personnel is unacceptable and that Poland opposes settler violence across the occupied West Bank.
Israel investigates as Netanyahu warns against smears
Israeli police opened an investigation after reviewing footage circulating online. Police officials said investigators are working to locate the victims and identify suspects to bring them to justice, stating that the force condemns violence of any kind.
The Israeli military condemned what it termed a severe act of violence carried out by Israeli rioters. Military officials noted that the delegation had not coordinated the visit with the army in advance and that no soldiers were present at the scene.
Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, also condemned the assault and said his office was in touch with ambassadors from the nations involved. Sa’ar added that the lack of prior military coordination was unfortunate because advance notice could have helped ensure security for the delegation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office urged caution regarding reports of the confrontation. “Any violence against diplomats is unacceptable,” the prime minister’s office said, while adding that serious accusations demand compelling evidence. The office stated that video clips do not establish the complete sequence of events, arguing that the reports fit into a coordinated effort to smear Israel and residents of Judea and Samaria during the olive harvest. The office also noted that Baudoux had previously displayed a Palestinian flag on his town’s municipal hall before French authorities ordered it taken down.
Surge in harvest violence
The clash in Taybeh occurred a day after settlers attacked West Bank olive pickers and an American reporter in another village. In that incident, several people were seriously hurt, including Heidi Levine, a freelance photojournalist working for The Washington Post. Levine underwent surgery on Saturday for a nearly severed finger and suffered multiple broken vertebrae, a broken rib and cuts, according to her daughter. Israeli police and military officials said they are investigating that attack as well.
United Nations humanitarian records show settler violence against Palestinians has grown substantially in recent years, particularly since Israel’s right-wing government took office in late 2022. Human rights organizations argue that authorities rarely hold attackers accountable and do little to protect farmers, while Netanyahu has previously maintained that violence is limited to a small group of several hundred youths.
