Settlers Attack European Diplomats, Palestinian Olive Harvesters in West Bank

According to reports, approximately seven masked assailants armed with clubs, sticks, and stones arrived on all-terrain vehicles. They surrounded the diplomatic cars, demanded identification from the passengers, and smashed a window of a vehicle belonging to the Belgian Consulate in Jerusalem. During the confrontation, Bernard Bodo, a French mayor accompanying the delegation, was reportedly pushed to the ground and kicked, sustaining injuries.

The IDF strongly condemned the violence, stating that no military forces were present during the attack and noting that the diplomatic patrol had not been coordinated with them in advance. The Judea and Samaria District Police, secured by the IDF, entered the area to collect evidence and have launched an investigation. Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs demanded urgent explanations from Israel and called for the perpetrators to be prosecuted, while France and Belgium also demanded swift justice.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office questioned the allegations, stating that serious claims require serious evidence, and suggested the incident could be part of a coordinated campaign to defame Israel. This response contrasted with statements from Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and the IDF, who attributed the attack to Israeli rioters.