Israel Military, Police Clash Over Response to Diplomat Attack

The incident has sparked a sharp international and domestic dispute. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot condemned the attack, stating that a French mayor was assaulted and the Belgian consulate's vehicle was vandalized, and announced that Belgium will continue to push for European Union sanctions against the perpetrators. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and the IDF condemned the violence and confirmed that a police investigation has been launched. However, Sa'ar and the military noted that the diplomatic visit was regrettable as it had not been coordinated in advance with the IDF, which could have ensured the visitors' safety.

Domestically, the incident drew contrasting reactions. Opposition figures Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Golan denounced the event as "Jewish terrorism" and criticized the government's handling of such violence. Conversely, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and right-wing sources questioned the reports, suggesting the incident might be a staged provocation and part of a smear campaign against Israel and Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria. The Prime Minister's Office stated that while footage shows a confrontation and damage, the visuals do not establish the complete sequence of events or individual responsibility.