Netanyahu's Office Questions Attack on European Diplomats Near Ramallah

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office urged caution and demanded solid evidence before drawing conclusions, stating that while any violence against diplomats is unacceptable, serious allegations require convincing proof. The office suggested that the published footage does not show the full sequence of events and expressed concern that the reports are part of a coordinated campaign to defame Israel and its residents during the olive harvest. It also noted that the delegation included Bernard Bodo, a French mayor associated with the Communist Party who had previously been ordered to remove a Palestinian flag from his town hall.

The Israel Police and forensic investigators have launched an inquiry to determine the facts and identify those responsible. While Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the violence and confirmed contact with the affected countries' ambassadors, he also noted the lack of coordination with the IDF. Meanwhile, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot described the attackers as "Jewish terrorists" operating under government auspices, and Belgium's Foreign Minister condemned the attack, vowing to pursue sanctions against those responsible.