A diplomatic delegation including the Belgian consul-general was attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Saturday. Violence in the area has escalated since the start of the olive harvest in late September.
Foreign News
European delegation including Belgian diplomats attacked by Israeli settlers in West Bank
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The group of Belgian, French and Polish diplomats was taking part in the olive harvest in Taybeh, in the occupied West Bank, a spokesperson for Foreign minister Maxime Prévot confirmed. Their participation was a “symbolic gesture of support for the local population”.
During the visit, the convoy was surrounded by masked settlers armed with sticks, who pelted the vehicles with rocks, breaking a window.
Consul-general Anick Van Calster and a second Belgian diplomat were present at the incident. They were unharmed. Bernard Baudoux, mayor of the French municipality of Aulnoye-Aymeries, was injured.
Prévot condemned the attack on X. “I condemn in the strongest terms the attack by masked settlers in Taybeh, in the occupied West Bank,” he posted. “Palestinians face this violence every day. Settlers also target journalists reporting on it and diplomats ... As the occupying power, Israeli authorities must protect Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists, and bring those responsible to justice.”
He said Belgium would continue to press for European sanctions “against those responsible for this violence and those who support them” and that “the occupation of the Palestinian territory must end”.
I was violently attacked and thrown to the ground. I was quite shaken
Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries
Baudoux was in the West Bank because Aulnoye-Aymeries is twinned with the Christian municipality of Taybeh. He was visiting to pick olives with locals as a symbolic gesture.
“Suddenly, masked people arrived in cars and started attacking the group,” he said. “I had put on my sash, in the colours of the French flag, in an attempt to protect the people around me. But it was to no avail. I was violently attacked and thrown to the ground. I was quite shaken.”
The Israeli army said in a statement on X that “no Israeli soldiers were present” at the time of the attack. It also stated that the visit had not been coordinated with the army. According to the army, such coordination is “important to prevent incidents such as this”.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu describes the incident as a smear campaign against Israel. The army has, however, stated that it is launching an investigation. The Israeli police are also reported to have launched an investigation.
In the nearby village of Abu Fallah, around 80 Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers at the weekend. Wearing masks and dressed in black, they threw rocks and set fire to trees and vehicles.
The situation escalated when the Israeli army intervened. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, both Israeli soldiers and settlers opened fire. Several Palestinian farmers were injured.
Human rights organisations have again reported an increase in violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank in recent weeks. According to the Israeli human rights organisation Yesh Din, settlers have carried out at least 170 attacks since 27 September, around the start of the olive harvest. The Palestinian Authority reports that at least four Palestinians have been killed and more than 100 injured.
Human rights organisations document a rise in violence almost every year during the harvest, which is a crucial source of income for many Palestinian families. This year, however, it appears to be escalating further in the run-up to the Israeli elections at the end of October.