The clash occurred near the village of Taybeh during an olive harvest when seven masked settlers on all-terrain vehicles surrounded the convoy, threw stones, and smashed a Belgian consulate car window. Bernard Baudoux was injured during the encounter and later told AFP the incident demonstrates Israel's "tolerance" for settler violence. Journalist Barak Ravid noted that the Prime Minister's questioning of the events marks the second time this week the office has shifted blame toward victims of settler attacks.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Netanyahu Office Questions Evidence of Settler Attack on EU Diplomats
Geopolitics4 days ago
Israel's Prime Minister's Office has demanded "compelling evidence" regarding reports that masked men assaulted a diplomatic delegation from France, Belgium and Poland in the West Bank. The administration argued the representatives entered a sensitive area without coordinating with the IDF and cited the Palestinian political sympathies of Bernard Baudoux, a French mayor in the group, to cast doubt on the narrative of the assault. This stance contrasts with the Israeli Foreign Minister, who condemned the violence, and the Israeli police, who have launched a criminal investigation.
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