Olive harvest violence: israeli settlers attack european diplomats in west bank, injuring three

Violence during the harvest

A group of seven masked men confronted people harvesting olives near Taybeh, a Christian town in the occupied West Bank. The group included men carrying clubs, according to the account.

The attackers took olives and assaulted Palestinian harvesters. A woman in her seventies was kicked and abused, while a man suffered a head wound that required six stitches.

The group later confronted European diplomats, French mayor Bernard Baudoux and Archbishop Vincent Dollmann. An armoured vehicle belonging to the Belgian mission had its window smashed.

French visitors targeted

A witness said the masked attacker shouted, “Vive la France.” Baudoux’s wife and Dollmann were also threatened. The harvest group included the French consul general in Jerusalem, his wife, and Belgian and Polish consuls, as well as other diplomats.

Condemnation and rising attacks

Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot denounced violence against Palestinians, diplomats and journalists. He said Belgium would keep pressing for European Union sanctions on settlers.

Prévot said that harvesting olives, reporting news and conducting diplomatic work should not expose people to attacks. He linked the violence to Israel’s settlement policy and called for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territory.

Since 27 September, settlers have carried out more than 170 attacks, according to Israeli rights group Yesh Din. Palestinian authorities say at least four people have been killed, more than 100 injured and thousands of trees damaged.

Safety and travel dispute

Taybeh’s parish priest, Father Bashar Fawadleh, said foreign diplomats had not previously been targeted there. He described the assault as an escalation and questioned what protection local families have when international witnesses leave.

A western diplomatic source said requiring advance notice of diplomats’ travel violated diplomatic conventions and international law. The source said Israel is responsible for security in Areas B and C, which cover most of the West Bank.