Israeli settlers attack Palestinians, European diplomats in West Bank, Belgium says

By Ali Sawafta and Mohammed Torokman

TAYBEH, West Bank, Oct 17 (Reuters) – Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian civilians, accompanied by European diplomats and a French mayor, according to Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prevot, who said the assault occurred on Saturday, a day after settlers had beaten an American photojournalist.

Prevot noted that the Belgian consular liaison for Palestinians, as well as senior French and Polish officials and Catholic representatives, became targets. A local vehicle sustained damages as a result.

“As the occupying power, Israeli authorities must protect Palestinians, safeguard the safety of diplomats and journalists, and bring those responsible to justice. Impunity for violent settlers must end,” Prevot stated in a declaration posted on X.

Berkeley’s mayor Bernard Baudoux recalled that while harvesting olives near the Palestinian Christian village of Taibe​h in solidarity with locals, he was “THROWN TO THE GROUND” by masked settlers. 

“I was struck to the floor,” Baudoux said.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar criticized the violence, labeling the aggressors Israeli rioters and called for tighter coordination between visiting diplomats and the Israeli military to secure their visits.

Palestinian Vice‑President Hussein al‑Sheikh responded by calling the attack a small instance of the daily terrorism suffered by Palestinian people.

Israeli leadership, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, repeatedly condemned settler violence while insisting such acts constitute the actions of a small fringe group—a view contested by those who advocate a broader responsibility.

Earlier this week, dozens of masked settlers brutally assaulted olive‑harvesters in the West Bank. Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine, a U.S. correspondent covering the scene, was hospitalized after being assaulted by cloaked attackers.

“Palestinians confront such violence daily; settlers also target journalists and diplomats whose work puts them at risk,” Prevot emphasized.

Belgium, which has banned imports from Israeli settlements, indicated it would pursue EU sanctions against individuals responsible for the violence and the networks enabling it.

Poland’s foreign ministry confirmed that a convoy carrying offended diplomats and Belgian officials was attacked, though the officials remained unharmed.

“Targeting members of the diplomatic corps is completely unacceptable,” said Polish spokeswoman Maciej Wewior.

Belgian police have opened an investigation into the incident, but no arrests have been announced yet. Prosecutions of settlers accused of attacking Palestinians in the occupied territories remain infrequent.

(Reporting by Ali Sawafta and Mohammed Torokman in Tâibeh, Makini Brice and Sybille de la Hamaide in Paris, Alexander Cornwell in Jerusalem, Anna Koper in Warsaw and Lili Bayer in Brussels. Editing by Mark Potter)

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