Belgium Demands Action After Israeli Settlers Attack Palestinians, European Diplomats in West Bank

Israeli settlers have reportedly attacked Palestinian civilians, European diplomats and a French mayor in the occupied West Bank, prompting condemnation from Belgium and other European officials.

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said on Saturday that Belgium's consul general to the Palestinians, French and Polish diplomats, and Catholic representatives were among those targeted during the incident. He added that a Belgian vehicle was also damaged.

The attack occurred a day after masked Israeli settlers allegedly assaulted American photojournalist Heidi Levine while she was covering Palestinian olive harvesting in the West Bank. Levine, who works for The Washington Post, was reportedly hospitalised following the incident.

French Mayor Describes Attack

Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, said he was violently attacked by masked settlers while participating in the olive harvest near Taybeh, a Palestinian Christian village.

Baudoux said he had joined local residents to demonstrate solidarity with the Palestinian community when the attackers knocked him to the ground.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the incident, describing those responsible as Israeli rioters. However, he suggested that the visiting diplomats should have coordinated their presence with the Israeli military, arguing that such arrangements could have improved their security.

Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh also condemned the attack, describing it as an example of the violence Palestinians experience regularly.

Belgium Calls for Accountability

Prévot urged Israeli authorities to fulfil their responsibilities as the occupying power by protecting Palestinian civilians, ensuring the safety of diplomats and journalists, and bringing those responsible for the violence to justice.

He warned that continued impunity for violent settlers must end, adding that Belgium would push for European Union sanctions against individuals involved in the attacks and those supporting them.

Belgium has also announced a ban on imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and the Golan Heights.

Meanwhile, Polish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewior confirmed that a convoy carrying diplomats, including Polish officials, had been attacked. He said the Polish diplomats were unharmed and described attacks on diplomatic personnel as unacceptable.

Israeli Police Launch Investigation

Israeli police said they had opened an investigation into the incident, although no arrests had been announced at the time of reporting.

Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has increased over the past three years, with journalists, activists and foreign observers also reportedly coming under attack.

Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have periodically condemned settler violence, describing those responsible as a minority. However, Palestinians and human rights organisations have challenged that assessment, citing repeated incidents of violence against Palestinian communities.

The latest attacks have renewed concerns over the safety of Palestinians during the olive harvest season, as well as the protection of journalists, humanitarian representatives and foreign diplomats operating in the occupied territory.

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