October 19, 2026
An attack carried out by Israeli settlers on a European diplomatic convoy in the West Bank sparked a wave of widespread international condemnation, affecting diplomats, church representatives, and a French official, coinciding with the escalation of attacks against Palestinians and journalists during the olive harvest season.
The attack occurred on Saturday, October 17, in the village of Taybeh in the West Bank, when masked settlers attacked a delegation that included European diplomats and representatives of the Catholic Church, including officials from Belgium, France, and Poland.
The attack included the mayor of the French municipality of Aulnois-Imery, Bernard Boudeau (78 years old), who was reported by the Washington Post to have been kicked and beaten with iron rods.
The incident was followed by intense European action. The European Union condemned the attack on Sunday, demanding that those responsible be held accountable and effective measures be taken to stop the violence, and calling on Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law and human rights law, and to stop the expansion of settlements. Belgian and French officials also called for those involved to be held accountable, and Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot stressed the need to protect civilians and diplomats and prevent the recurrence of such attacks.
On the other hand, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar, condemned the acts of violence, describing the perpetrators as “rioters,” criticizing at the same time the failure to coordinate the visit in advance with the Israeli army. In turn, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office denounced what it described as a “slander campaign” targeting Israel and its settlers, amid mounting international demands to open investigations and hold those involved accountable.
This attack came one day after American photojournalist Heidi Levin, working for the Washington Post, was attacked by masked settlers while covering attacks on Palestinians picking olives near the village of Abu Falah. According to the newspaper, the beating and kicking assault led to Levin suffering fractures in four of his spinal vertebrae and one of his ribs, in addition to other injuries.
Levine’s assault sparked American condemnations, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his deep annoyance, and called on the American ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, to prosecute those involved and hold them legally accountable.
These developments come in light of a remarkable escalation and repeated attacks during the olive harvest season. The Guardian newspaper reported that the Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din had monitored at least 170 attacks since September 27, coinciding with the start of the harvest season.
