Masked Israeli settlers attacked a convoy of European diplomats on Saturday in Taybeh, a mostly Christian Palestinian village northeast of Ramallah in the West Bank, and knocked a 78-year-old French mayor to the ground.
The delegation included Belgium's consul general, French and Polish diplomats and Catholic representatives, among them the archbishop of Cambrai. They were visiting Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said a French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle was damaged. Witnesses told AFP that the settlers kicked Bernard Baudoux, mayor of the northern French town of Aulnoye-Aymeries, who was wearing his tricolour sash of office. People who spoke to him said he was hurt but did not need hospital care. The attackers also smashed a window of an armoured Belgian consular car.
"Impunity for violent settlers must end." — Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot called on Israel to arrest the "extremist settlers" who "violently assaulted" the mayor and bring them to justice. Prévot said "impunity for violent settlers must end" and pledged to push for more European Union sanctions.
Israel's military confirmed the attack and called it a "severe act of violence," but said the visit had not been coordinated with it and no soldiers were at the scene. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the "severe acts of violence by Israeli rioters." Israeli police opened an investigation. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office later warned against "premature conclusions."
The attack came a day after settlers seriously injured Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine as she covered the harvest. The Israeli rights group Yesh Din says settlers have carried out more than 170 attacks since September 27. Israel holds national elections later this month.
Photo: A masked Israeli settler confronts a vehicle in the European diplomatic convoy near Taybeh, West Bank, Oct. 17, 2026. Still from i24NEWS video posted on X
Never miss a story — join us on Telegram: https://t.me/profilopoliticsnews