On October 17, in the predominantly Christian Palestinian village of Taybeh in the West Bank, a group of masked Israeli settlers attacked a European Union diplomatic delegation accompanied by the 78-year-old mayor of the French city of Aulnoye-Aymeries, Bernard Baudoux. According to eyewitness accounts and video footage of the incident, three cars carrying men armed with iron bars and clubs abruptly approached the convoy, demanded documents, threatened the visitors, and damaged a vehicle belonging to the Belgian delegation. Despite the fact that Baudoux was wearing an armband with a tricolor flag identifying his position, he was beaten with an iron bar, kicked, and pushed to the ground before the convoy managed to board their cars and leave.
The Taybeh Incident
The delegation included the Belgian Consul General, French and Polish diplomats, representatives of the Catholic Church, and Mayor Baudoux. They were visiting Taybeh to sign a twinning agreement and support local residents during the olive harvest. "Three cars appeared. Several masked men armed with iron bars emerged and moved toward us with extreme aggression," Baudoux said. "I was struck with an iron bar, kicked, and pushed to the ground. In the end, we managed to get back to our car." According to the Belgian Foreign Ministry, a French diplomat was injured in the attack and the Belgian delegation's vehicle was damaged; the mayor did not require hospitalization.
Reaction from European Capitals
Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib (acting) condemned the attack and vowed to pursue new EU sanctions against violent settlers: "The impunity for violent settlers must end." French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot demanded that Israel "urgently stop this criminal violence and ensure the safety of the civilian population as required by international law." The Polish Foreign Ministry also condemned the incident, stating that attacks on members of the diplomatic corps are "absolutely unacceptable." Baudoux himself said he was shocked by the "pointlessness" of what happened and called on the world to pay attention to the plight of the local residents.
Israel's Position
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the "serious acts of violence by Israeli rioters" and announced that police had opened an investigation, while noting that the diplomatic corps had not coordinated its actions with the Israeli military prior to the visit, which he said complicated the organization of security measures. The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged restraint against "hasty conclusions," pointing out that reports appeared amid concerns about a "coordinated campaign to smear Israel"; they confirmed that "any act of violence against diplomats is unacceptable" but emphasized: "The more serious the accusation, the greater the need for compelling evidence."
Context: Rising Settler Violence
The attack on the EU delegation occurred the day after settlers in the West Bank attacked American photojournalist Heidi Levine of The Washington Post on October 16 while she was covering the olive harvest; she sustained serious injuries and required surgery. "I have been covering this region for over 40 years and I have never seen this country in such a state," Levine said from her hospital bed. According to UN estimates, settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank has surged in recent years, and this year's olive harvest has become one of the most dangerous periods for local residents due to attacks on international observers and diplomats.
