Diplomat Attacked in West Bank Responds to Netanyahu's Call for Evidence
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
A foreign diplomat attacked in the West Bank on Saturday stated the facts are clear and Israel is responsible for security, responding to Prime Minister Netanyahu's call for evidence. Netanyahu had urged caution, noting the delegation's uncoordinated entry into a sensitive area and suggesting a potential campaign to defame Israel during the olive harvest. The incident, which involved masked assailants, is under investigation, with Netanyahu emphasizing the need for verifiable proof before judgment.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A foreign diplomat stated they were attacked in the West Bank and Israel is responsible for security in Area B.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu called for caution and solid evidence before drawing conclusions about the attack.
- Netanyahu noted the diplomatic delegation did not coordinate their visit with the IDF, which is required for safety.
- The delegation included a French mayor who previously displayed the Palestinian flag.
- Netanyahu suggested the reports might be part of a campaign to defame Israel during the olive harvest.
- The incident, including footage of masked individuals and a shattered window, is under investigation.
A foreign diplomat who was attacked on Saturday in the Benjamin region of the West Bank responded to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's call for evidence regarding the incident. Speaking to Kan News, the diplomat stated, "The facts are clear, we were attacked." He added that while questions are being raised about why their arrival was not coordinated, Israel is responsible for security in Area B. "It's not our fault that this is what happened, why do people need to be attacked in the field? Why do diplomats need to be attacked? Why can't we harvest olives without being attacked?"
Prime Minister Netanyahu had previously issued a statement in English, urging caution before drawing conclusions from reports of European diplomats being attacked by masked Israelis in Judea and Samaria. He emphasized that while violence against diplomats is unacceptable, "the more serious the accusation, the greater the demand for solid evidence." Netanyahu noted that the diplomatic delegation entered a sensitive area with a history of conflict without prior coordination with the IDF, a fact confirmed by the army. He stressed that such coordination is essential for protecting visiting diplomats and preventing violence.
Netanyahu also pointed out that the delegation included Bernard Bodo, the mayor of a French Communist Party town, who has previously flown the Palestinian flag over his town hall. While acknowledging that published footage shows masked individuals confronting a diplomatic vehicle and separate images depict a shattered window and a person on the ground, Netanyahu stated these visuals do not establish the full sequence of events or individual responsibility. He indicated that the circumstances are under investigation.
The Prime Minister suggested these reports emerge amid concerns of a coordinated campaign to defame Israel and Jewish residents in Judea and Samaria during the annual olive harvest. He warned that reputational damage could occur from premature conclusions, even before full facts emerge. Netanyahu concluded by calling on the public and responsible journalists to demand verifiable evidence, reject rumors, and refuse to turn unproven claims into a collective indictment against Jewish residents in the area.
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