Israeli settlers attacked Palestinians, European diplomats, and a French mayor in the West Bank on Saturday. This incident, according to Belgium's Foreign Minister, Maxime Prevot, also resulted in damage to a Belgian vehicle.
Reactions to the Attack
Maxime Prevot emphasized that as the occupying power, Israeli authorities must protect Palestinians and ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists. He also called for punishment for the attackers and noted that immunity for the assailants must come to an end. Mayor Bernard Baudoux from Allonne-Imere in northern France, who was harvesting olives near the Christian village of Taybeh, reported a severe attack by masked assailants.
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Emphasis on Diplomat Security
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the attack and stated that the assailants should be recognized as Israeli rioters. He advised diplomats to coordinate their travels with the Israeli army, as this coordination could be effective in ensuring the safety of visitors. Additionally, Hussein al-Sheikh, the Deputy President of Palestine, described the attack as an example of the "daily terrorism" faced by Palestinians.
In recent years, attacks by settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank have increased, and journalists, activists, and foreign observers have also been targeted in these assaults. On Friday, a group of masked settlers attacked Palestinians who were harvesting olives, and an American journalist named Heidi Levine was also attacked and taken to the hospital.
Maxime Prevot also announced that Belgium will emphasize the imposition of EU sanctions against those responsible for this violence and their supporters. A spokesperson for the Polish Foreign Ministry stated that a convoy of diplomats, including Polish officials, was attacked, but the Polish diplomats were not harmed. He reminded that attacks on members of the diplomatic corps are absolutely unacceptable.
The Israeli police have announced that an investigation into this incident has begun, but no immediate announcements of arrests have been made. Legal action against settlers accused of violence against Palestinians rarely occurs.
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