đź’˘ NEW: Masked Israeli settlers attack European diplomats observing olive harvest in occupied West Bank
About seven masked Israeli settlers on all-terrain vehicles attacked European diplomats and Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest near Taybeh, a Palestinian Christian village northeast of Ramallah, on Saturday, Israel's Army Radio reported. Diplomats from France, including the French consul in Jerusalem, Belgium and Poland were present.
The settlers surrounded a diplomatic vehicle and demanded ID, then pelted it with stones and smashed a window of a Belgian consulate car, according to Army Radio. Footage shows men carrying clubs approaching the diplomats and one diplomat lying on the ground. A witness said they alerted the army in real time, but soldiers never came. Israeli police said they opened an assault investigation. No arrests have been reported.
The attack came a day after settlers beat and shot Palestinians and brutally assaulted Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine, who needed surgery, also during the harvest.
đź”— More images below.
🚨BREAKING: A diplomatic delegation comprising representatives from France, Belgium, and Poland came under attack by Israeli settlers while attending the olive harvest in the Palestinian village of Taybeh, in the occupied West Bank.
Footage appears to show Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, on the ground following the assault.
Masked Israeli settlers also smashed the windows of a Belgian consular vehicle and demanded identification documents.