Settlers attack European diplomats' convoy during harvest visit to Taybeh

Masked settlers attacked a group of European diplomats visiting Taybeh, a Christian village east of Ramallah, during the olive harvest on Saturday, 17 October. Belgium's foreign minister, Maxime Prévot, said the group included Belgium's consul general, French and Polish diplomats and Catholic representatives.

Army Radio, cited by the Times of Israel, said about seven settlers on all-terrain vehicles surrounded the cars, demanded identity documents and smashed a window of the Belgian consulate's vehicle. Bernard Baudoux, a 78-year-old French mayor in Taybeh to sign a twinning agreement, said he was struck with metal bars and kicked.

The Israeli military called it a severe act of violence and police opened an investigation, while Netanyahu's office urged caution before drawing conclusions. AFP reported that the settlers had come to stop Palestinians from picking olives. The attack came a day after the assault on a Washington Post photographer.