Israeli settlers attacked a European diplomatic delegation in the occupied West Bank on Saturday, drawing condemnation from multiple governments and international figures.
The masked settlers confronted the convoy of diplomats from Belgium, France, Poland and the Catholic Church in the village of Taybeh near Ramallah. Video footage from the scene showed stone-throwing and confrontations. Belgium's consulate car had a window smashed. French officials confirmed that Bernard Baudoux, the left-wing mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, was assaulted during the incident. Baudoux told AFP news agency that settlers kicked him, beat him with iron bars and threw him to the ground. He called the violence "gratuitous" and said the attackers "arrived completely enraged."
The delegation had traveled to Taybeh to assess conditions following nearly daily settler attacks on Palestinians attempting to harvest olives.
Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot condemned the assault and said Israel bore responsibility for prosecuting those involved. He said Palestinians face this violence constantly and called for EU sanctions against violent settlers and those who support them. He stated: "As the occupying power, Israeli authorities must protect Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists, and bring those responsible to justice."
The Israel Defense Forces said they "strongly condemn the severe act of violence" and confirmed no IDF soldiers were present at the time. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar also condemned what he called "Israeli rioters" but noted the visit had not been coordinated with the IDF in advance.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office cast doubt on the reports. It urged "caution before drawing conclusions" and said social media images "do not establish the complete sequence of events or individual responsibility." The office described the reports as part of "a coordinated campaign to smear Israel and the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria during the annual olive harvest."
The attack occurred one day after masked settlers injured Palestinians and Heidi Levine, a Washington Post photographer, in a separate assault in another West Bank village. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called that attack "disturbing" and "not a good look." US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a staunch Israeli ally, condemned it as a "despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards."
Israeli police have launched an investigation into the Saturday incident.