European diplomats were attacked by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank during a visit to the Palestinian village of Taybeh, prompting condemnation from Belgian, French and Israeli officials as violence against Palestinian communities intensified during the annual olive harvest.
Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said masked settlers targeted Belgium’s consul general, French and Polish diplomats, and Catholic representatives on Saturday in Taybeh, about five kilometres northeast of Jerusalem. Prevot said a French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle was damaged, but confirmed that his country’s team was safe.
Prevot blamed what he described as Israel’s “illegal settlement policy” for the incident and pledged to press for further European Union sanctions. He also said Israeli authorities had a responsibility to protect Palestinians under Israel’s role as the occupying power.
“Impunity for violent settlers must end,” Prevot said.
The Israeli military described the incident as a “severe act of violence” but said the diplomatic visit had not been coordinated with the military and that no soldiers were present at the scene.
Israeli police confirmed that an investigation had been opened. In a statement, the police condemned violence and said they would pursue the investigation to ensure that those involved were brought to justice.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also condemned the attack, describing the violence by Israeli rioters as severe. He said his ministry was in contact with ambassadors from the countries concerned.
The incident came after reports of attacks on Palestinian farmers and other residents on Friday, when Israeli settlers reportedly targeted at least eight villages in the northern West Bank. The incidents have drawn renewed attention to the risks facing Palestinian communities during the olive harvest, an important period for farmers whose livelihoods depend on access to their groves.
The olive harvest has become a particularly difficult period for Palestinian farmers who must reach their land to collect crops while facing reported attacks, property damage and restrictions on access. The violence affects more than the immediate safety of farmers. Damage to olive trees, stolen harvests and the loss of working days can also threaten household incomes in communities that depend on olive production.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) documented 178 attacks linked to the 2025 olive harvest between October 1 and November 30 that resulted in injuries, property damage or both. The incidents included assaults on farmers, theft of crops and harvesting equipment, and damage to olive trees and saplings.
According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least four people had been killed and more than 100 injured since the 2026 harvest began, although those figures were not independently verified in the material provided.
The attack on the diplomatic delegation adds an international dimension to concerns over settler violence in the West Bank. Prevot’s call for further European Union sanctions puts pressure on European governments to consider how they should respond, while Israel’s condemnation and the police investigation leave questions about accountability to be addressed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also facing a closely contested election, scheduled for less than two weeks after the reported attack, according to the original report. The incident comes amid wider criticism of his government’s approach to security and its treatment of Palestinians.
