Israeli Settlers Attack European Diplomats in Taybeh — SkimNews
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- Masked Israeli settlers attacked a delegation of European diplomats from Belgium, France, Poland and the Catholic Church in the largely Christian village of Taybeh near Ramallah, with Belgian authorities reporting a consulate car window was smashed and stones were thrown at the convoy.
- Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot condemned the assault on Belgium's consul general and announced Belgium would push for EU sanctions against those responsible for settler violence and those who support them, declaring that 'impunity for violent settlers must end.'
- French Mayor Bernard Baudoux of Aulnoye-Aymeries told AFP that masked settlers kicked him and beat him with iron bars, throwing him to the ground; footage showed him slumped beside a vehicle wearing a French tricolor sash.
- The Israel Defense Forces condemned 'the severe act of violence' by 'Israeli rioters' and said a preliminary inquiry found no IDF soldiers were present at the scene during the attack.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office urged 'caution before drawing conclusions' from social media images and suggested reports of the attack 'come amid concerns about a coordinated campaign to smear Israel and the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria during the annual olive harvest.'
- Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar strongly condemned the violence but noted the diplomatic visit had not been coordinated with the IDF in advance, saying such coordination 'could have helped safeguard the visitors' security.'
- The assault came one day after a separate settler attack in another West Bank village injured Palestinians and Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine.
Why it matters: Belgium is escalating to the threat of EU sanctions against individual settlers and their backers — a step beyond diplomatic condemnation — while Netanyahu's office is already framing the well-documented attack as a potential smear campaign before Israel Police forensics conclude. The split between the IDF confirming no soldiers were present and Sa'ar blaming the diplomats for not coordinating reveals a government speaking with competing voices, one of which (Netanyahu's) stood out as the lone dissenter from the chorus of condemnation.
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