Germany ‘criticizes’ attacks by Israeli occupiers on European diplomats in West Bank

Germany on Monday “criticized” attacks by violent Israeli occupiers targeting European diplomats and a US news photographer in the occupied West Bank, calling for an investigation. “I think, as a matter of principle, we must of course say that attacks on diplomats – and this also applies to a journalist – should, of course, be criticized. These are troubling reports from the weekend,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Kathrin Deschauer said at a media briefing in Berlin. “We join in the (European) demands that there must be an investigation,” she added, expressing “solidarity” with European diplomats targeted in the attacks. The incident occurred over the weekend near the town of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, where an EU delegation was visiting during the olive harvest season. The delegation included the French and Belgian consuls, a Polish representative and Catholic Church officials. Masked Israeli occupiers confronted members of the delegation, and a window of a Belgian consular vehicle was smashed. Attacks by violent Israeli occupiers against Palestinians and their property have intensified during the olive harvest season, which began earlier this month.