In brief
Belgium condemned an attack on its consul general and other envoys in the West Bank, while the IDF denounced the violent assault and announced an investigation. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, disputed the severity of the incident and suggested a smear campaign, but foreign ministers from Belgium and France called for accountability. The assault, staged just after another tranche of settler violence against Palestinians, highlights growing tensions around the annual olive harvest in the area.
A delegation of European diplomats, including representatives from Belgium, France, Poland and the Catholic Church, was attacked by masked Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Taybeh near Ramallah on Thursday.
Belgium’s foreign ministry issued a sharp condemnation, demanding that “those responsible be brought to justice” and threatening further action against the perpetrators. The Israel Defence Forces likewise denounced the "severe act of violence" and pledged an investigation.
In contrast, the Prime Minister’s office suggested the incident was part of a "coordinated campaign to smear Israel," calling for caution before drawing conclusions and stating that forensic investigations were underway.
The attack came a day after Palestinians and a Washington Post photographer were injured in a separate settler offence while collecting olives during the harvest. European envoys had travelled to Taybeh to assess the daily security risks faced by Palestinians during this period.
Video footage from the scene shows masked settlers confront the convoy, with reports of stones thrown and a Belgian consular vehicle’s window smashed. A French mayor was apparently assaulted, and a man wearing a French tricolor sash was found slumped beside a vehicle.
Belgium envoy Maxime Prevot remarked that “Palestinians face this violence every day” and that “the occupation must protect them, safeguard diplomats, and end impunity for violent settlers.” He also warned of potential EU sanctions against those responsible or supporting the violence.
Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar sharply condemned the violence by his own settlers and said the ministry was in contact with the affected ambassadors. When asked about coordination with security forces, Sa’ar admitted a lack of pre‑convention with the IDF could have compromised the visitors’ safety.
The IDF’s statement reiterated its condemnation and noted that no soldiers were present at the scene at the time of the attack. The Israeli police and forensic teams have launched an inquiry to ascertain the complete sequence of events and the identities of those involved.
Netanyahu’s office urged international observers to wait for official facts before attributing motives, emphasizing that social media images are not conclusive. He named the injured French official as Bernard Baudoux, the left‑wing mayor of Aulnoye‑Aymeries, who described the assault as a “gratuitous act of violence.”
The incident underscores heightened tensions at the intersection of diplomatic presence, settler activities, and Palestinian security, with potential repercussions for Israel’s international standing and domestic cohesion.
