Israeli settlers attack European diplomats and olive harvesters in West Bank
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The gist
Israeli settlers assaulted European diplomats, including a French mayor, near the Palestinian village of Taybeh during the olive harvest.
The EU condemned the attacks and Israel arrested 10 suspects, weeks before Israel's October 27 election.
Background
Settler attacks across the occupied West Bank have escalated in recent weeks, coinciding with the annual olive harvest season, which has become an annual flashpoint. Yesh Din, an Israeli human rights group documenting settler violence, counted more than 530 incidents since the harvest began in late September — averaging 27 a day — with Israeli soldiers present during roughly a quarter of them. The escalation comes just weeks before Israel heads to the polls on October 27, and European governments whose diplomats were targeted are pressing for accountability.
How it unfolded
- Nov 2025One Canadian and three Italian activists were injured by Israeli settlers in Ein ad-Duyuk village in the Jericho governorate, local sources told the Anadolu news agency.
- Jul 2026US lawmaker Ro Khanna was detained by settlers along with a New York Times photographer in Zanuta; Netanyahu then called Khanna a liar.
- Oct 16, 2026Netanyahu's office said on X that "serious questions remain" about who initiated the violence in the attack on Washington Post journalist Heidi Levine.
- Oct 17, 2026Israeli settlers assaulted European diplomats, including a French mayor, near the Palestinian village of Taybeh while the delegation was visiting Palestinian olive harvesters.
- Oct 17, 2026Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said settlers targeted Belgium's consul general, French and Polish diplomats and Catholic representatives; a Belgian vehicle was damaged.
- Oct 17, 2026An Israeli soldier fired a tear gas grenade toward Palestinian olive pickers in Abu Falah; the day before, settlers attacked harvesters there and an American photojournalist.
- Oct 18, 2026The EU condemned settler attacks on European diplomats and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
- Oct 19, 2026Israel arrested 10 suspects over the attacks on a journalist and European diplomats in the West Bank.
- Oct 21, 2026Israeli forces briefly detained US congressional candidate Brad Lander as he joined activists supporting Palestinians harvesting olives west of Bethlehem.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington has asked Israel and continues to ask it to crack down on settler violence, and that President Donald Trump did not want tensions to escalate into a crisis.
- Official
- Netanyahu's office called reports of the attack on the Europeans "alleged" and requiring "compelling evidence," and he has repeatedly described settler violence as the actions of a rogue element.
- Caution
- Fatah delegation head Jibril Rajoub warned that "an explosion is coming if the crimes of the settlers and the Israeli attacks in the West Bank continue," calling on the international community to intervene.
- Party
- Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot linked the incident to Israel's "illegal settlement policy" and pledged to push for further EU sanctions, while France's foreign minister urged Israel to arrest the "extremist settlers" and bring them to justice.
- Expert
- The EU said it took "positive note" of Israeli statements condemning the attacks but expected "full accountability" and effective measures to prevent further violence against Palestinians and journalists.
Still unverified
Netanyahu's office said reports of the attack on the European diplomats are "alleged" and require "compelling evidence," despite acknowledging that published footage of the incident exists.