Attack on European diplomats in the West Bank, France calls for an end to the 'terror'
Following an attack by masked Israeli settlers on European diplomats in the West Bank, France has called on the Israeli authorities to take all necessary measures to stop 'these acts of terror'. Paris has described Saturday's attack as a very serious assault.
In a statement issued on Sunday, France's foreign ministry said the attackers in this very serious attack must be arrested and brought to justice. The statement said ensuring the security of the civilian population and diplomatic missions is the responsibility of the Israeli authorities under international law.
The incident took place in Taybeh, a predominantly Christian town north of Jerusalem. There, diplomats and other officials from France, Poland and Belgium were watching local people harvest olives.
Video footage of the incident showed settlers confronting a convoy of the diplomats' vehicles. A man wearing a scarf in the colours of France's tricolour flag was also seen lying beside a vehicle.
France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on social media that the mayor of the Allnoy-Emery commune had been subjected to a violent attack by extremist settlers in the West Bank. He also demanded that Israel urgently stop this criminal activity.
Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said that, in addition to the attack on the French mayor, a Belgian car was also damaged. He said the Israeli authorities must give protection to the Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists and bring those responsible to justice.
Prévot also said Belgium will continue to press for European Union sanctions against the individuals responsible for this violence and their supporters.
On Sunday morning, a spokesperson of the European Union said the EU strongly condemns the attacks by violent settlers in the West Bank, including the attack on European diplomats.
The spokesperson said the EU has taken the condemnatory statements of some Israeli representatives positively, but they expect full accountability and effective preventive measures. Measures have been sought to prevent violence and harassment against Palestinians, including during the ongoing olive harvest season, and even against journalists.
The Israel Defense Forces strongly condemned on social media the attack by Israeli rioters on diplomatic representatives in the Taybeh area as grave violence. According to a preliminary investigation, the force also said no IDF soldiers were present at the scene at the time of the attack.
On the other hand, the office of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged caution before drawing conclusions from the reports of the attack. At the same time, it was said that any violence against diplomats is unacceptable.
This incident has further increased tensions between Europe and Israel over settler violence in the West Bank. It now remains to be seen what steps the Israeli authorities take following the demands for arrests and trials, and how far the EU sanctions discussion advances.
