Masked Israeli settlers attacked Belgium's consul general, French and Polish diplomats and Catholic representatives in the West Bank village of Taybeh during the olive harvest, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said. A French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle damaged; Prévot said Belgium's team is safe and that Belgium will push the EU for further sanctions on violent settlers. Israel's military called it a "severe act of violence" and said the visit was not coordinated with it and no soldiers were present; police opened an investigation; Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned "Israeli rioters"; Netanyahu's office urged caution about the accusations, per The Wall Street Journal.
Catch up
Friday, Oct. 16 — Masked settlers near Abu Falah beat Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine and burned cars and olive trees; the Post called for an investigation.
The olive harvest so far
- At least 4 people killed since the harvest began this month, per the Palestinian Health Ministry; not independently confirmed
- More than 100 people hurt in the same period, per the same ministry
- Prévot: "Impunity for violent settlers must end."