Key facts
- A French mayor, Bernard Baudoux, was assaulted and injured.
- Belgian, French, and Polish diplomats were present during the attack.
- Belgium will continue to push for EU sanctions on settlers.
- Since late September, settlers have launched over 170 attacks, killing at least four people and injuring over 100.
Masked Israeli settlers attacked a convoy of European diplomats and a French mayor in the occupied West Bank, injuring three people and damaging a car. The incident occurred near the village of Taybeh as diplomats observed the olive harvest. Belgium's foreign minister, Maxime Prévot, condemned the assault, stating that "Harvesting olives, reporting the news or carrying out diplomatic duties should never put anyone at risk of attack." He added that Belgium would continue to push for European Union sanctions against those responsible for the violence. The Israeli Prime Minister's office urged caution, suggesting the reports were part of a "coordinated campaign to smear Israel" and that an investigation was underway.