The European Union has condemned an attack by Israeli settlers on a convoy carrying European diplomats in the occupied West Bank and called for action to stop the pogroms. The 27-member bloc issued its statement on Sunday, the day after masked settlers attacked a visiting delegation near the Palestinian village of Taybeh. The assault has intensified diplomatic pressure on Israel as attacks on Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest increasingly threaten journalists and foreign visitors accompanying them.
Diplomats from France, Belgium and Poland, along with representatives of the Catholic Church, were visiting the predominantly Christian village east of Ramallah to show support for Palestinian olive growers when masked men attacked them. They threatened members of the delegation and smashed a window of a Belgian diplomatic vehicle. Bernard Baudoux, the 78-year-old mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, said he was kicked and beaten, despite wearing the ceremonial sash identifying him as a French official.
The EU said on Sunday it welcomed statements by Israeli officials condemning the attacks but expected “full accountability” and measures to prevent further violence against Palestinians and journalists. It also called on Israel to respect international law and stop expanding settlements in the occupied territory. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called on Israel on Saturday to arrest those responsible and protect civilians.
Prevot said Belgian personnel were safe, although their vehicle had been damaged. Poland’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement posted on X on Saturday evening that its diplomats were unharmed and there was no indication they had been specifically targeted. Warsaw demanded an explanation from Israel and action against the attackers.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the violence on Saturday, describing the perpetrators as rioters and said that police had opened an investigation. He also criticised the delegation for failing to coordinate its visit with the Israeli military, arguing that advance arrangements could have helped protect the visitors. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said violence against diplomats was unacceptable but questioned whether video circulating online provided enough evidence to establish exactly what happened.
The diplomatic incident followed another attack on Friday in the village of Abu Falah, near Ramallah. Masked settlers assaulted Palestinians harvesting olives and severely injured US photojournalist Heidi Levine, who was covering the farmers for The Washington Post. Levine said she was beaten for more than 10 minutes, despite wearing protective clothing identifying her as a journalist.
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