Netanyahu Warns Against Smear Campaign Against Settlers

Translated & summarized from 0404 by baba

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that accusations stemming from an incident involving European diplomats in Judea and Samaria require thorough investigation and warned against drawing conclusions from partial evidence. The diplomatic delegation entered a sensitive area without coordinating with the IDF, which confirmed the lack of security arrangements. The office expressed concern that the reports are part of a smear campaign against Israel and its settlers, urging responsible reporting based on verified facts.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office warned against smear campaigns targeting settlers based on unproven accusations.
A diplomatic delegation entered a sensitive Judea and Samaria area without coordinating security with the IDF.
The IDF confirmed the lack of prior security coordination with the visiting diplomatic delegation.
Video evidence of the incident is considered insufficient to determine the full sequence of events or identify perpetrators.
The Prime Minister's office fears the reports are part of a coordinated effort to harm Israel's image.
One diplomat included a French mayor with a history of displaying a Palestinian flag.

Netanyahu Warns Against Smear Campaign Against Settlers — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has responded to reports of an incident involving European diplomats in Judea and Samaria, stating that the severity of the accusations necessitates a thorough investigation. The office cautioned against drawing conclusions from partial documentation and initial reports.

According to the Prime Minister's office, the diplomatic delegation entered a sensitive area where past clashes have occurred without prior security coordination with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF confirmed the lack of coordination, which the office stressed is crucial for the safety of visitors and the prevention of unusual incidents.

The delegation included a French mayor identified with the Communist Party, who previously raised a Palestinian flag over his city hall, a move that led French authorities to order its removal. The Prime Minister's office highlighted this past action as relevant context.

Video footage released of the incident shows masked individuals confronting a diplomatic vehicle, with a shattered window and a person lying on the ground visible in other images. The Prime Minister's office emphasized that this documentation is insufficient to determine the sequence of events or identify those responsible, and that the police and forensic investigators are examining the circumstances.

Netanyahu's office expressed concern that the reports are part of a coordinated effort to damage the image of Israel and its settlers in Judea and Samaria, particularly during the olive harvest season. This concern, the office clarified, is a fear and not an established investigative finding.

Finally, the Prime Minister's office called on the public and media to act responsibly, rely on verified evidence, and avoid turning unproven accusations into a collective indictment against the settler population.