Outrage over attacks on European diplomats and US journalist in West Bank

Anger mounted on Sunday over attacks targeting European diplomats and an American journalist in the West Bank. Visitors from France, Belgium and Poland were among those assaulted by masked settlers near the village of Taybeh on Saturday. The European Union demanded "effective measures" from Israel to halt the unrest. Poland's Foreign Ministry stated that the attack in Taybeh, a Christian village, reflected the daily hardships faced by Palestinians in the West Bank.

"The attack should be met with a firm response from the Israeli authorities," the Polish Foreign Ministry asserted.

US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called for arrests and prosecution of those responsible for the attack on the journalist. He condemned the assault on Heidi Levine, a photojournalist for The Washington Post, as a "despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards." The US envoy emphasized that Ms. Levine was clearly identified as a journalist and was unarmed.

The Washington Post reported that the photographer was knocked to the ground, repeatedly kicked, and had her cameras and phone stolen during a coordinated assault by "dozens of masked settlers." She was taken to the hospital in Ramallah for treatment, reportedly suffering from multiple injuries, including wounds to her leg and knee.

The incident came a day after US photojournalist Heidi Levine suffered serious injuries in an attack by Israeli settlers. The attack occurred as European diplomats and a French mayor were also targeted in a separate incident on Saturday. Belgium expressed its outrage, criticizing the attack on its consul general and other diplomats, urging Israel to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Poland's Foreign Ministry pointed to preliminary evidence suggesting Israeli settlers were responsible for the assault, stating that Israeli authorities must identify and hold accountable those responsible. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot also condemned the mayor of a French town's assault by "extremist settlers" during Saturday's events, urging Israeli authorities to end the violence.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog called Ms. Levine to apologize for the attack and urged an investigation. The Israeli military described the violence as intolerable and promised to investigate the incidents. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office noted that the circumstances remained unclear and more evidence was needed before establishing responsibility.

They also noted that the diplomats' visit had not been coordinated with Israeli security officials. In recent months, several countries, including Britain, France, Canada, and others, have announced sanctions targeting Israeli settlements. The US, however, stated it would not join those measures.