In brief
A convoy of European diplomats, including representatives from Belgium, France, Poland and the Catholic Church, was assaulted by masked Israeli settlers near Ramallah. Belgian officials condemned the attack and called on Israel to bring the perpetrators to justice, while the Israeli Defense Forces said they were investigating the incident. The Israeli Prime Minister’s office questioned the reports, suggesting they were part of a smear campaign, and urged caution. The attack follows a second violent episode involving settlers in a nearby village, highlighting the escalating tensions around the annual olive harvest.
A convoy of European diplomats – featuring envoys from Belgium, France, Poland and the Catholic Church – was violently confronted by masked Israeli settlers as it travelled through the largely Christian town of Taybeh near Ramallah. The assault, which involved stone‑throwing and the smashing of a consular car window, prompted immediate condemnation from Belgian and French officials.
Belgium’s foreign minister Maxime Prevot demanded that Israeli authorities “bring those responsible to justice” and warned that impunity for settler violence must end. The International Defence Forces (IDF) labeled the attack a severe act of violence and confirmed that no Israeli soldiers were present at the scene, while launching an investigation.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, however, questioned the veracity of the incident, claiming the footage did not conclusively show the attackers and suggesting the event could be part of a coordinated smear campaign. It urged caution and said the situation was still under investigation by Israeli police and forensic teams.
The attack comes a day after another violent episode, in which settlers in a neighbouring village injured several Palestinians and a Washington Post photographer. The escalating tensions underscore the fragile security environment surrounding the annual olive harvest in the West Bank.
