Israeli police arrest 8 after attacks on US journalist, European diplomats in West Bank

Israeli police have arrested 10 individuals in the West Bank following a series of violent attacks by right-wing settlers on Westerners, including an American photographer and a French mayor. The arrests came after a raid on multiple locations across the West Bank, during which officers seized vehicles and potential evidence linked to the assaults.

These attacks have surged in recent days, coinciding with settlers disrupting Palestinians' annual olive harvest. Major General Moshe Finchi, the police commander in the West Bank, stated that the suspects were apprehended on suspicion of violating a military commander's order regarding a restricted military zone and engaging in illegal construction.

The incidents have sparked global condemnation and raised concerns about Israel's handling of settler violence, particularly when Palestinians are the victims. Israel has been accused of rarely prosecuting settlers in such cases, and rights groups have pointed out that settlers have been responsible for an average of six violent attacks against Palestinians each day since the beginning of the year.

Recent attacks include the assault on Bernard Baudoux, the mayor of a French town, and Heidi Levine, a veteran photographer working for The Washington Post.