Olive harvest visit turns violent as european diplomats attacked by israeli settlers in west bank

Delegation targeted during visit

The diplomats had travelled to the area to observe conditions amid near-daily attacks on Palestinians bringing in their olive harvest. Masked settlers attacked the group, according to the report.

Israeli authorities investigate

The Israel Defense Forces condemned what it described as a severe act of violence and said it was investigating. A preliminary inquiry found that no IDF soldiers were at the scene when the attack took place.

Benjamin Netanyahu’s office urged caution about drawing conclusions while the circumstances remain under investigation. It said Israeli police and forensic investigators had begun inquiries to establish the facts and identify those responsible.

Officials condemn the violence

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called the incident a despicable act of terror and said those responsible should face prosecution. He also said attacks on Palestinians, journalists and diplomats must end, and that Belgium would keep pressing for EU sanctions against those responsible and their supporters.

Huckabee also said the delegation’s visit had not been coordinated with the IDF in advance, adding that advance coordination could have helped protect the visitors. Baudoux told AFP the violence was gratuitous and said the attackers had arrived enraged.

Another assault the day before

The diplomatic delegation’s visit came a day after a separate settler assault in another West Bank village. Palestinians and Heidi Levine, a Washington Post photographer, were injured in that incident.

The two attacks have occurred amid repeated settler violence against Palestinians attempting to harvest olives. The delegation’s stated purpose was to assess conditions on the ground.