Israeli settlers attack European delegation convoy in West Bank, beat French mayor

Israeli settlers attack European delegation convoy in West Bank, beat French mayor

The full report

Israeli settlers have attacked a convoy carrying a European delegation in the occupied West Bank, according to witnesses. The attack occurred on Saturday, with masked settlers making aggressive statements towards the diplomats.

The convoy, which included cars from the French, Belgian, and Polish missions, was visiting Taybeh, a largely Christian village in the occupied West Bank. Settlers descended on the scene to stop Palestinians from gathering olives, witnesses said.

Bernard Baudoux, the 78-year-old leftist mayor of the northern French town of Aulnoye-Aymeries, was beaten by the settlers. Video footage seen by AFP showed Baudoux slumped on the ground against a car, wearing a sash in the French tricolour.

Two people who spoke to Baudoux said that he was hurt but did not need to go to hospital. The attack on the diplomatic convoy is the latest in a series of violent incidents during the Palestinian olive harvest season.

The West Bank has seen an especially violent olive harvest season, with Israeli settlers trying to physically stop Palestinians from gathering their crops. On Friday, settlers seriously injured an American photographer for The Washington Post as she covered the harvest.

The violence comes during the final days of an election campaign in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has championed settlers as he seeks their support in the upcoming poll. Israel quickly condemned the attack on the diplomatic convoy.

Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said, "I strongly condemn the severe acts of violence by Israeli rioters." However, Saar also criticised the consulates, saying they did not coordinate the trip with the military. Israeli police said that they had launched an investigation.