Masked Israeli aggressors attacked European diplomats and Catholic representatives in the West Bank. In this attack, Belgian Foreign Minister, Maxim Prevot, announced that the Belgian consulate and French and Polish diplomats were also among the victims.
Details of the Attack
Prevot condemned this attack "strongly" in a post on the social media platform X, stating that a Belgian vehicle was also damaged. The Israeli police announced that an investigation into the attack on the diplomats in the West Bank has been initiated. In a separate statement, the Israeli army declared that this visit was not coordinated with them and that no soldiers were present at the site.
Presence of Diplomats in Taybeh
According to witnesses, vehicles from the embassies of France, Belgium, and Poland were taking diplomats to visit Taybeh, a predominantly Christian village in the West Bank. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers surged into the area to prevent Palestinians from gathering for olive picking. Masked men surrounded a diplomatic vehicle with their cars, then demanded identification and broke a window.
Witnesses and two diplomats told AFP that settlers attacked Bernard Boudot, the 78-year-old mayor of Aulnoy-Émeraux in northern France. He is reported to have been injured but did not need to go to the hospital.
Reaction from the Israeli Foreign Minister
Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, in a rare statement criticizing the settlers, condemned the attack on the European diplomatic delegation. He said: "I strongly condemn these violent acts by Israeli settlers in the Taybeh area" and also criticized the diplomats for not coordinating with the Israeli army.
This year, the West Bank has witnessed a particularly violent olive harvest season. Israeli settlers have attempted to use force to prevent Palestinians from harvesting their crops. Additionally, Washington Post journalist, Heidi Levin, was attacked by a group of Israeli settlers while reporting in the West Bank on Friday.
This violence is occurring in the final days of the election campaign. In an effort to garner their support in the upcoming elections, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has backed settler issues.
