The key facts

  • Masked settlers attacked a delegation of diplomats from France, Belgium and Poland and Palestinian olive harvesters in Tayibe; a French mayor was injured, a Belgian car window was smashed
  • Belgium condemned the attack and called for EU sanctions; Israel said the visit was not coordinated with the military, police opened an investigation
  • Attacks on the olive harvest in the West Bank have intensified since early October; a Washington Post journalist was previously injured

Attack in Tayibe

On Saturday, in the town of Tayibe in the central part of the occupied West Bank, a group of masked settlers attacked a diplomatic delegation that included representatives of France, Belgium and Poland, as well as Palestinians harvesting olives. According to the Anadolu agency, citing the mayor of Tayibe, Suleiman Khoury, the attack took place after an official ceremony of signing a sister-city agreement between Tayibe and the French town of Saint-Pierre. The ceremony was attended by the French and Belgian consuls, a representative of Poland (whose name was not disclosed) and the mayor of Saint-Pierre, Christian Raven. According to Khoury, the attack occurred in the western part of the town, several residents were injured, and a window of the Belgian delegation's car was smashed. Israeli army radio, citing witnesses and video footage, also reported that stones were thrown at the diplomatic vehicle.

The injured French mayor

Video footage shows a person lying on the ground after the attack. Israeli army radio identified him as Bernard Boudaud, a French politician and mayor. Publications differ on details: Anadolu calls him the mayor of Onnaing-Valenciennes in northern France, while Deutsche Welle, citing AFP, refers to 78-year-old Bernard Boudaud, a left-wing mayor of Onnaing-Hemery. According to AFP, based on the words of two people who spoke with him, he was injured but did not seek hospital treatment.

Reaction of Belgium and Israel

Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot on X condemned 'in the strongest terms' the attack by masked settlers on Palestinians, the Belgian consul general, French and Polish diplomats and Catholic representatives, noting that the French mayor was beaten, the Belgian car was damaged, and the Belgian team is safe. He stated that olive harvesting, journalistic work and diplomatic activity should not put anyone at risk, called on Israel as the occupying power to protect Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists, and hold those responsible accountable, adding that 'the impunity of violent settlers must end.' Prevot also said that Belgium will continue to push for EU sanctions and that the occupation of Palestinian territory must end. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, in a statement rare for him, condemned 'acts of violence by Israeli pogromists' in the Tayibe area, but at the same time reproached the diplomats for the fact that the visit was not coordinated with the Israeli army. Israeli police, according to DW, opened an investigation; the Israeli army stated that the visit was not coordinated with it and that soldiers were absent from the scene. According to Channel 12, citing the military, the incident 'is under review,' and no one was detained immediately.

Context of the olive harvest season

According to DW, embassy vehicles of France, Belgium and Poland brought the diplomats to the predominantly Christian village of Tayibe, after which settlers arrived in the area to prevent Palestinians from harvesting olives; masked men, according to reports, surrounded the diplomatic car with SUVs, demanded documents and smashed a window. Mayor Khoury called the attack 'a gross violation of the sanctity of diplomatic and humanitarian work' and part of the ongoing restrictions on Palestinian farmers. Attacks on Palestinians and their lands have intensified since the start of the olive harvest season in early October — a key source of income for thousands of Palestinian families; DW notes that this season has been particularly violent. On Friday, according to DW, Washington Post journalist Hedi Levine was injured when she was attacked by a group of Israeli settlers while reporting in the West Bank. DW also links the context to the end of the Israeli election campaign, in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the settlers.