Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians, journalists and foreign officials in the occupied West Bank have intensified during the olive harvest, with European diplomats and a French mayor among those targeted in the latest incident.
The delegation was visiting Palestinian olive pickers near Taybeh on Saturday when masked men confronted them. Belgium’s consul general, French and Polish diplomats and Catholic representatives were present, according to Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prevot.
Prevot said the French mayor Bernard Baudoux was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle damaged. He blamed Israel’s “illegal settlement policy” and said he would press for further European Union sanctions.
Video from the scene showed Mr Baudoux sitting on dusty ground beside a vehicle. Other footage appeared to show masked men hitting a car window, demanding identification and approaching with sticks. Activist Amit Orfali said the group had been threatened with death.
French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot called for the arrest and prosecution of the settlers involved, saying they must stop what he described as “criminal violence” and protect civilians in accordance with international law.
Mr Baudoux told AFP the assault indicated “there is a tolerance on the part of the Israeli government” towards settler violence.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office questioned reports of the attack, saying they were “alleged” and required “compelling evidence”, while acknowledging that footage had been published.
The EU condemned the assaults on the diplomats and Palestinians. It said it expected accountability and effective measures to prevent further violence and harassment during the olive harvest, as well as attacks on journalists.
Journalist attacked during olive harvest
The diplomatic incident came a day after Heidi Levine, a 64-year-old American journalist who works freelance for the Washington Post, was assaulted while covering Palestinian farmers harvesting olives.
Witness Jasper Nathaniel said Ms Levine was surrounded, beaten, kicked and robbed after falling to the ground. She later said her attackers kicked her “like probably 50 times”.
She was wearing a protective vest marked “PRESS”. Her cameras and phone were taken and she was eventually taken to hospital in Ramallah.
Mr Nathaniel said settlers threw more stones as journalists and paramedics tried to help her. He also alleged that Israeli soldiers arrived afterwards, using live fire and tear gas against Palestinians and shooting a Palestinian man in the leg.
The Israeli prime minister’s office said the facts remained unclear and called for an investigation, including into “who initiated the violence”.
The incidents have taken place just weeks before Israel is due to hold elections on October 27. They form part of a series of reported assaults involving settlers, Palestinian activists, journalists and foreign visitors.
Previous attacks in the West Bank
On October 6, AFP photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh was beaten near Aqraba, south of Nablus. Witnesses and colleagues said armed men attacked him with rifle butts, causing injuries to his head and torso, and took his camera equipment.
His colleague John Wessels said a quadbike approached the journalists before men opened fire. Mr Ashtiyeh was attacked as he tried to enter a car marked “Press”, while Mr Wessels was threatened at gunpoint. The Israeli military had not responded to the report.
In July, US Congressman Ro Khanna said settlers carrying rifles detained him and his tour group during a visit to the West Bank. He accused the Israeli army of siding with the settlers when soldiers arrived.
The Israeli military disputed his account, saying troops had dispersed civilians blocking a road. Israeli officials ruled out an apology to Mr Khanna or action against the settlers.
In November 2025, one Canadian and three Italian activists were injured when settlers allegedly entered a Bedouin community in Ein ad-Duyuk, in the Jericho governorate, where the group was staying. Their passports, phones and belongings were also taken, according to reports cited by local sources.
Palestinian activist and English teacher Awdah Hathaleen was shot dead in the West Bank village of Umm al-Khair in July 2025. The 31-year-old father of three had contributed to the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land.
Footage released by the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem appeared to show Yinon Levi opening fire during a confrontation. Despite sanctions previously imposed on him by the EU and the United States over attacks on Palestinians, Israeli authorities released him to house arrest. Donald Trump later removed penalties against Mr Levi and other settlers accused of extremist violence.
In July 2024, eight mainly American foreign volunteers helping Palestinian farmers near Qusra were attacked with sticks, metal pipes and stones, according to David Hummel, an American-German member of the group.
The Israeli army condemned that violence, saying troops had deployed to the scene and fired warning shots into the air, causing the settlers to leave.
