West Bankupdated 2h ago3 min read
Israeli Settlers Attack European Diplomats in Taybeh, Damaging Belgian Vehicle
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Masked settlers attacked a European diplomatic delegation in Taybeh, West Bank, damaging Belgian consul vehicle Delegation included Belgian consul general, French and Polish diplomats, plus a French mayor
17 outlets told this the same way.
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Attack in Taybeh
Israeli settlers attacked a group of European diplomats during a visit to the occupied West Bank on Saturday in the village of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, and the assault damaged a Belgian vehicle and shattered a window, according to Israeli media and Wafa. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot condemned the attack in a statement on X, saying, “I strongly condemn the attack by masked settlers on Palestinians, our Consul General, and French, Polish diplomats, and representatives of the Catholic Church in the town of al-Teibe in the Occupied West Bank.” The CNN account tied the diplomats’ visit to France, Belgium and Poland and described masked settlers blocking roads ahead of the diplomats and demanding identification, while a French official, identified as Aulnoye-Aymeries mayor Bernard Baudoux, sat outside a vehicle with a smashed window.
The IDF said there were no soldiers in the area at the time of the attack and that the visit had not been coordinated with the military, while Israeli police opened an investigation into the alleged assault. Hussein al-Sheikh, Vice President of the Palestinian Authority, called on the international community to hold Israel responsible, saying, “This is a miniature model of the scale of the daily terrorism to which our Palestinian people are subjected, and it requires a firm international stance that imposes international protection for the Palestinian people.”
Condemnations and competing frames
Jordan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned an assault by masked settlers on a European diplomatic delegation, Palestinian farmers, journalists, and representatives of a Catholic church in the town of Al-Tiba east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, and it held Israel, as the occupying power, fully responsible. Ambassador Fuad Al-Majali said Jordan rejected “all terrorist practices carried out by settlers in the Palestinian territories occupied,” and he called on the international community to compel Israeli authorities to stop settler attacks and hold perpetrators accountable. Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot linked the attack to Israel’s “illegal settlement policy” and pledged to push for further European Union sanctions, while he also said “Impunity for violent settlers must end.”
The Guardian reported that Prevot condemned the attack “in the strongest terms,” and it quoted him saying, “This violence cannot be separated from Israel’s illegal settlement policy.” The Jerusalem Post described an Army Radio report that approximately seven masked settlers allegedly attacked Palestinian olive harvesters near Taybeh, and it included a witness account stating, “We updated the army in real time, but they neither arrived nor responded.”
Olive harvest violence
The attack unfolded during an olive harvest season described as especially violent, with the Guardian saying at least four people had been killed and more than 100 injured since the harvest began earlier this month, according to the Palestinian health ministry. The PBS account said masked settlers attacked European diplomats during a visit to Taybeh on Saturday, and it stated that at least four people had been killed and more than 100 injured since the harvest began earlier this month, citing the Palestinian Health Ministry. The France 24 account said masked settlers made aggressive statements toward the diplomats before kicking Bernard Baudoux, 78, the leftist mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, and it described video footage showing him slumped on the ground against a car.
The New Arab reported that Taybeh Mayor Suleiman Khoury said the delegation withdrew without any injuries, while two Palestinians were injured and the settlers attacked participants near homes that the Palestinian side considered safe. The New Arab also said Khoury indicated that the attackers came from seven settlement outposts surrounding the town and that the number of attackers was approximately ten settlers, while it reported that the delegation managed to withdraw without any injuries.