Netanyahu's Office Questions Reports of Attack on European Diplomats

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged caution in drawing conclusions regarding reports of masked settlers attacking European diplomats in the West Bank, stating that such serious accusations require conclusive evidence. In a statement released on X, the Prime Minister's office affirmed that violence against diplomats is unacceptable but stressed the necessity of verifying facts before assigning blame. It warned that premature conclusions could harm Israel's reputation before investigations are complete. The statement noted that the diplomatic delegation entered a sensitive area with a history of confrontations without prior coordination with the Israeli military, a fact officially confirmed by the army. Coordination, it was emphasized, is essential for protecting visiting diplomats and preventing violence. The office also pointed out that the delegation included Bernard Bodo, a French mayor from the Communist Party, who had previously raised the Palestinian flag over his town hall, an act later ordered removed by French authorities. While acknowledging that published video footage shows masked individuals confronting a diplomatic vehicle, and other images depict a shattered window and a person on the ground, the office stated this material alone is insufficient to determine the full sequence of events or individual responsibility. The Israeli police and forensic investigators have launched an inquiry into the incident and the identities of those responsible. Netanyahu's office accused unnamed parties of orchestrating a coordinated campaign to tarnish the image of Israel and its settlers in the West Bank during the olive harvest season, suggesting some reports used sensational headlines before all facts were clear. The office called on the public and media to demand verifiable evidence and reject reliance on rumors or generalizing blame to Jewish settlers before accusations are proven. The incident occurred when Israeli settlers allegedly attacked diplomats from France, Belgium, and Poland during a visit to the village of Taybeh near Ramallah to participate in the olive harvest. This attack comes amid a rise in settler violence against Palestinian farmers and their supporters during the harvest season, including physical assaults, intimidation, and obstruction of access to farmlands, alongside damage to trees and property. The article also mentions a previous violent assault on American photojournalist Heidi Levine, who works for The Washington Post, while she was covering the olive harvest in the village of Abu Falah, northeast of Ramallah. Levine sustained serious injuries, including a severe finger injury, broken ribs, and spinal fractures, according to her daughter. Levine reported being repeatedly beaten and kicked by settlers despite wearing a press vest and helmet, prompting The Washington Post to demand a thorough investigation and accountability. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem condemned the "criminal acts of violence" and called for investigation and prosecution of those responsible. These attacks are part of a pattern targeting Palestinians, solidarity activists, and journalists during the olive harvest season, a vital source of livelihood for many Palestinian families, with farmers facing increasing risks accessing their land and crops.