Amid outrage, Netanyahu claims no ‘compelling evidence’ settlers attacked European diplomats

In the West Bank, Israeli settlers engaged in an attack on a convoy of European diplomatic cars and physically assaulted a visiting French mayor, escalating recent violence during the Palestinian olive harvest season. The French, Belgian, and Polish diplomatic missions were on their way to visit Taybeh, a predominantly Christian village in the occupied West Bank, when the settlers descended upon them.

Masked settlers made aggressive statements towards the diplomats, leading to Bernard Baudoux, an 78-year-old leftist mayor from northern France, being kicked to the ground by the assailants. Baudoux was seen slumped against a car in video footage provided to AFP, and witnesses confirmed that he sustained injuries but did not require hospitalization.

This incident occurred on Friday, following a similar attack on an American photographer for The Washington Post earlier in the week. The violence in the West Bank has been particularly intense during the olive harvest, as Israeli settlers attempt to physically stop Palestinians from gathering their crops. Israel swiftly condemned the attack on the diplomatic convoy, contrasting its response with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's earlier remarks about the Washington Post photographer's assault, in which Netanyahu suggested that Palestinians or far-left activists might share blame.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar strongly condemned the violent acts, criticizing the consulates for not coordinating the trip with the military. Israeli police launched an investigation to locate the victims, gather testimonies, and identify the suspects, with the goal of bringing them to justice.