TAYBEH, West Bank (Reuters) – Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians, European diplomats and a French mayor in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, Belgium’s foreign minister said, a day after settlers beat an American photojournalist.
Maxime Prevot said Belgium’s consul general to the Palestinians, French and Polish diplomats, and Catholic representatives were among those attacked. A Belgian vehicle was also damaged, he said.
“As the occupying power, Israeli authorities must protect Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists, and bring those responsible to justice. Impunity for violent settlers must end,” Prevot said in a statement posted on X.”
Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, told Reuters he had been harvesting olives near the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh in solidarity with the local community when he was “violently attacked” by masked settlers.
“I was thrown to the ground,” he said.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the attack, describing the perpetrators as Israeli rioters.
He also suggested the diplomats should have coordinated their visit with the Israeli military.
“Such coordination could have helped safeguard the visitors’ security,” he said in a statement on X.Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh condemned the attack, calling it a small example of the “daily terrorism” to which Palestinians are subjected.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have periodically condemned settler violence, while saying it is carried out by a small minority.
Palestinians and human rights groups dispute that characterisation.
