Masked Israeli settlers attacked a group of European diplomats visiting the occupied West Bank on Saturday, officials and witnesses said, marking the second day of violent incidents during the ongoing olive harvest season. The assault occurred in the village of Taybeh, a predominantly Christian town north of Jerusalem, where Palestinians and diplomats from Belgium, France, and Poland were participating in the harvest.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot confirmed the attack, stating that a French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian diplomatic vehicle was damaged. Prevot linked the violence to Israel’s settlement policies, describing them as illegal under international law, and called for an end to what he described as “impunity for violent settlers.” He also pledged to advocate for further European Union sanctions in response. The Polish foreign ministry also condemned the attack and called on Israeli authorities to investigate and hold those responsible accountable.
Local Taybeh officials and Palestinian witnesses reported that masked settlers assaulted visitors, including beating a teenager and pushing an older woman. The French mayor, who was wearing a tricolor sash, was involved in a scuffle during the incident. Israeli activists opposed to settler violence said settlers had set up a roadblock preventing them from reaching the village to document the events. Video footage circulating online showed masked individuals threatening bystanders, knocking on vehicle windows, and attacking the diplomatic convoy.
The violence took place amid growing tensions coinciding with the olive harvest—a critical cultural and economic event for Palestinians in the West Bank. Palestinian health officials report at least four deaths and more than 100 injuries linked to settler violence and confrontations since the harvest began earlier this month. Human rights groups monitoring settler attacks describe a significant escalation in violence over recent weeks, involving weapons ranging from slingshots to firearms.
On the previous day, settlers had also attacked Palestinians and journalists near Abu Falah, seriously injuring Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine. Levine underwent surgery for multiple injuries, including a broken rib and deep wounds. Levine described the situation in the region as unprecedented in her decades of coverage. The United States ambassador to Israel condemned that attack as “vicious” and “cowardly.”
Israel’s military condemned Saturday’s attack on the diplomats, describing it as a “severe act of violence” but noted that the diplomatic visit had not been coordinated in advance with Israeli forces, which limited their ability to provide protection. Israeli police said they had launched an investigation and pledged to bring all participants to justice. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also condemned the violence and said his ministry was maintaining contact with the affected countries’ embassies.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement urging caution before drawing conclusions about the incident, warning of what it described as a possible “coordinated campaign to smear Israel.” Netanyahu's political opponents criticized the attack and the government’s handling of settler violence. Gadi Eisenkot, a leading challenger in upcoming elections, referred to the violence as “Jewish terror” and accused the government of losing legitimacy.
The broader context includes increasing international scrutiny of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law by the United Nations and much of the global community. The West Bank, captured by Israel in 1967, remains under Israeli military control, while hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers live alongside millions of Palestinians. Israeli authorities have faced criticism for insufficient enforcement against settler violence, with many past investigations failing to lead to indictments.
China’s foreign minister recently urged Israel to halt and reverse settlement activities in the West Bank, further highlighting the international pressure surrounding the issue weeks before Israel’s tightly contested national elections.