Israeli settlers attacked diplomats: French mayor also beaten
The delegation arrived in the occupied West Bank to check on the condition of Palestinian olive pickers.
Israeli settlers attacked European diplomats and a French mayor near the village of Taybeh in the occupied West Bank. On Saturday, when a delegation came to check on the condition of Palestinian olive pickers, Israeli settlers confronted them.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stated that during the attack, Belgium's consul general, French and Polish diplomats, and representatives of the Catholic Church were targeted. French mayor Bernard Bodu was attacked, and a Belgian vehicle was damaged.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called on Israel to arrest and hold accountable the settlers involved in the attack. Belgium also condemned the incident.
Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh reported that the attackers surrounded the diplomats' cars, threw stones at them, and smashed their windows. Israeli police have opened an investigation into the incident.
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that reports of the attack must be confirmed with reliable evidence.
For information, a day before the attack, Israeli settlers also attacked an American journalist north of Ramallah. Settler violence is also preventing Palestinians from harvesting their olive crop in the occupied West Bank.
