West Bank: Masked Settlers Attack European Diplomats

Masked Israeli settlers attacked a group of European diplomats and Catholic representatives during a visit to the occupied West Bank on Saturday, prompting condemnation from European officials, Israeli leaders and the United States. The incident in the Christian village of Taybeh came amid a surge in settler violence against Palestinians and others during the annual olive harvest.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said the delegation included Belgium’s consul general, French and Polish diplomats, and Catholic representatives. A French mayor was assaulted, and a Belgian vehicle was damaged. Prevot confirmed that his team was safe but condemned the incident and called for an end to impunity for violent settlers.

The attack has intensified scrutiny of Israel’s response to settler violence, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the Israeli government to take stronger action. Israeli police have opened an investigation, while Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the violence. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, however, cautioned against drawing premature conclusions.

European diplomats targeted during visit to Taybeh

The attack took place on Saturday in Taybeh, a Christian village in the occupied West Bank. According to Prevot, masked settlers targeted members of a visiting European diplomatic delegation and Catholic representatives.

Prevot said the incident involved an assault on a French mayor and damage to a Belgian vehicle. Although his team was safe, he described the violence as unacceptable and linked it to what he called Israel’s illegal settlement policy.

“Impunity for violent settlers must end,” Prevot said, pledging to push for further European Union sanctions.

Video shared by activist Amit Orfali offered a glimpse of the confrontation. One clip showed the French mayor, wearing a tricolour sash, sitting on the dusty ground and leaning against a vehicle. Other footage showed young masked men repeatedly knocking on a driver’s-side window and demanding identification, while additional masked men carrying sticks approached in the distance.

Orfali said the attackers threatened to kill those present. The footage and accounts of the incident added to concerns about the safety of Palestinians, international visitors and other people travelling through areas affected by settler violence.

US urges Israel to crack down on settler violence

The United States has called on Israel to do more to prevent attacks by settlers in the occupied West Bank. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated Washington’s concerns on Saturday following the latest incidents.

“We’re very disturbed by those images and what we’re seeing,” Rubio said, adding that the United States had asked Israel to crack down on such violence and would continue to do so.

His remarks highlight growing international pressure on the Israeli government to ensure that attacks by settlers are investigated and prevented. The demand also places renewed attention on whether existing security measures are sufficient to protect Palestinian communities during a period of heightened tensions.

The olive harvest has become a particular focus of concern. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least four people have been killed and more than 100 injured since the harvest began earlier this month. Activists say attacks have involved weapons ranging from slingshots to firearms and accuse Israeli authorities of failing to do enough to stop the violence.

The latest incidents have also drawn criticism from beyond Europe and the United States. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Israeli President Isaac Herzog earlier in the week that Israel should stop and revoke the forcible establishment of settlements in the West Bank, according to a spokesperson.

Israeli officials condemn attack as police launch investigation

Israel’s military confirmed that an attack on the visiting diplomats had taken place, describing it as a “severe act of violence.” However, the military said the visit had not been coordinated with it and that no soldiers were present at the scene.

Israeli police said they had opened an investigation into the incident and promised to pursue those responsible.

“We will work until everyone who took part in these cases is brought to justice,” police said.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also condemned the incident, describing the violence by Israeli rioters as severe. He said his ministry was in contact with ambassadors representing the countries concerned.

Netanyahu’s office subsequently urged caution, warning against “premature conclusions” about the incident. It also raised concerns about what it described as a coordinated campaign to smear Israel.

The contrasting statements reflect the political sensitivity surrounding settler violence. While some Israeli officials have publicly condemned attacks, critics argue that repeated incidents require stronger enforcement and accountability rather than statements of disapproval alone.

Washington Post photographer injured in earlier attack

Saturday’s confrontation followed another serious incident on Friday in which Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine and others were injured. Levine, who has covered the region for more than four decades, spoke to The Associated Press from her hospital bed on Saturday.

She described the situation as deeply disturbing and criticised Netanyahu for referring to the attack on her and others as an alleged incident.

“I’ve been covering this region for over 40 years, and I have never seen this country in such a state as it is today,” Levine said.

Levine also said she was shocked and insulted by Netanyahu’s characterisation of the attack. Her account added to criticism of how Israeli authorities and political leaders have responded to reports of violence involving settlers.

Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu’s main rival in the elections, also condemned the violence. In a post on X, he said a small group of criminals was destroying what remained of Israel’s legitimacy.

Eisenkot described the attacks as “Jewish terror,” a term Levine also used when discussing the violence.

Olive harvest exposes growing concerns over settler attacks

The annual olive harvest is a crucial period for Palestinian farming communities, many of which depend on olive trees for income and livelihoods. Reports of attacks during the harvest have raised concerns about farmers’ ability to access their land and collect their crops safely.

According to the supplied accounts, the violence has extended beyond physical assaults. Cars have been burned, olive trees damaged and people injured in communities across the Palestinian territory. Some residents and activists have described the current season as among the most dangerous yet.

Activists have criticised Israeli authorities for what they see as inadequate efforts to prevent attacks and hold perpetrators accountable. The reported use of firearms and other weapons has heightened concerns about the potential consequences for people working in exposed agricultural areas.

The violence also raises questions about the protection available to Palestinians in the West Bank, where Israeli forces exercise extensive security control. Saturday’s attack on an international delegation has brought those concerns into sharper focus because the targets included European diplomats and religious representatives rather than only local residents.

The incidents have placed additional pressure on Israeli officials to demonstrate that allegations of violence are investigated consistently and that those responsible face legal consequences.

West Bank settlements remain at the centre of international criticism

The dispute over settler violence is closely connected to the broader conflict over Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. The United Nations and much of the international community consider the settlements illegal under international law. Israel disputes aspects of that position.

Many settlements have expanded into developed residential communities, while settlers have also established hundreds of additional outposts without government authorisation. Critics argue that settlement expansion and the presence of unauthorised outposts contribute to tensions with Palestinian communities.

Palestinians seek the West Bank, along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, for a future independent state. Israel captured these territories in the 1967 Middle East war, and the West Bank remains under Israeli military rule.

The settlements issue has long been a major obstacle in efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Continued expansion and reports of violence have drawn international criticism, particularly when Palestinian residents face difficulties accessing agricultural land or protecting their property.

European officials have increasingly called for accountability over attacks attributed to settlers. Prevot’s pledge to pursue further European Union sanctions suggests that Saturday’s incident could add to calls for diplomatic measures against those considered responsible for violence.

Netanyahu faces pressure ahead of closely contested elections

The latest attacks come less than two weeks before closely contested Israeli elections that could bring an end to Netanyahu’s time in office. His government, described in the supplied report as the most nationalist and far-right in Israel’s history, faces criticism over security failures and its treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.

Some senior members of the government are themselves settlers, adding political sensitivity to the question of how the administration responds to violence by settlers. The issue has become part of a wider debate over security, governance and Israel’s international standing.

Netanyahu has previously attributed settler violence to a small number of troublemakers. Critics argue that the scale and recurrence of reported attacks demand a broader examination of enforcement and accountability.

Eisenkot’s condemnation reflects how the issue has become a point of political contention inside Israel. His criticism suggests that attacks on Palestinians and others are not only an international diplomatic concern but also a domestic question about the country’s leadership and reputation.

The government’s response to Saturday’s attack may therefore carry consequences beyond the immediate investigation. The incident has drawn attention from European governments, Washington and other international actors at a politically sensitive moment.

What happens next after the attack on diplomats?

The immediate focus is on the Israeli police investigation and whether those involved in Saturday’s attack will be identified and prosecuted. Israeli officials have condemned the violence, but the investigation’s outcome will be important in assessing whether the response leads to concrete accountability.

Diplomatically, Prevot’s pledge to push for further European Union sanctions indicates that the incident could intensify pressure for measures targeting violent settlers. The United States has also made clear that it expects Israel to take stronger action to deter attacks.

The wider challenge is preventing further violence during the olive harvest, when Palestinian farmers and their communities are particularly concerned about access to land and personal safety. The reported deaths and injuries since the start of the harvest underline the urgency of those concerns.

Saturday’s attack has also highlighted the risks faced by international visitors travelling through affected areas. With European diplomats among those targeted and a veteran journalist injured in a separate incident the previous day, the latest violence has renewed questions about security and accountability in the occupied West Bank.

Whether the Israeli government’s condemnations are followed by effective enforcement will be central to the response. For Palestinians facing repeated attacks, and for international officials demanding action, the key issue remains whether authorities can prevent further violence and ensure that those responsible are held accountable.