Israel Military, Police Clash Over Response to Diplomat Attack

By ניצן שפירא

Translated & summarized from N12 by baba

CenterNeutral tone

Hebrew · 15 newsrooms covering

A senior Israeli police official criticized the military's insufficient presence in the West Bank after masked Israelis attacked European diplomats during an olive harvest near Taybeh. Israelis reported the impending attack to the military, but no forces arrived. The police and military have opened investigations, with no arrests made. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and the Prime Minister's office also commented on the incident, with the latter urging caution before drawing conclusions.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Masked Israelis attacked European diplomats during a Palestinian olive harvest near Taybeh in the Benjamin region.
Israelis reported the impending attack to the military, but no forces arrived at the scene.
A senior police official criticized the military's insufficient presence in the West Bank.
The military stated that a greater presence would require at least ten additional battalions.
The police have opened an investigation into the attack, but no arrests have been made.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and the Prime Minister's office commented on the incident.

Israel Military, Police Clash Over Response to Diplomat Attack — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

A senior police official has criticized the Israeli military's operational conduct in the West Bank, following an attack on European diplomats by masked Israelis during a Palestinian olive harvest. The official stated that the military's presence in the area is insufficient and warned of a potential loss of control if a consistent presence is not maintained at known friction points. The military responded by saying that a greater presence would require at least ten additional battalions, and that forces in the West Bank have been reinforced.

The incident occurred near the Palestinian village of Taybeh in the Benjamin region, where masked assailants attacked diplomats from France, Belgium, and Poland. Prior to the attack, Israelis present at the scene reported the incident to the military, providing a location and video, and urging a rapid response. The military stated that this report was sent to a brigade command center designated for security personnel only, not civilians, and that other channels exist for civilian complaints.

The police have opened an investigation into the attack, but no arrests have been made, similar to a previous incident involving a Washington Post journalist. The military condemned the violence and stated that police investigators were entering the area under military security to gather evidence. The military also noted that the diplomats' tour was not coordinated with them, emphasizing the importance of such coordination for preventing incidents.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the attack and confirmed his ministry is in contact with the relevant ambassadors. He expressed regret that the visit was not coordinated with the military, suggesting coordination could have aided in ensuring the visitors' safety.

The Prime Minister's office issued a statement urging caution before drawing conclusions from the reports, stating that all violence against diplomats is unacceptable but that the accusations are serious and require convincing evidence. The statement also suggested the reports might be part of a coordinated effort to harm Israel's image during the olive harvest, warning that premature conclusions could cause reputational damage before all facts are examined.