--- title: "Masked settlers beat French mayor and attack EU delegation in West Bank village of Taybeh" description: "On October 17, masked Israeli settlers in the West Bank attacked an EU delegation and French mayor Bernard Baudoux, beating him with iron bars. Europe demands sanctions; Israel has opened an investigation." date: 2026-10-18T08:26:36.499Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/settlers-attack-eu-delegation-and-french-mayor-in-taybeh tags: [west-bank, eu-diplomats, israel-settlers, palestine, diplomacy] author: "Alexander Buran, Andrey Kosynko" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Masked settlers beat French mayor and attack EU delegation in West Bank village of Taybeh ![Elderly man with a French flag sash sitting on the ground next to a car after a settler attack](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/18/poselency-napali-na-delegaciyu-es-i-mera-francii-v-taybe/poselency-napali-na-delegaciyu-es-i-mera-francii-v-taybe-1.webp) ## Key Points - In the West Bank village of Taybeh, masked settlers attacked an EU delegation and French mayor Bernard Baudoux, beating him with iron bars and damaging a Belgian vehicle. - The Foreign Ministers of Belgium, France, and Poland condemned the attack; Belgium announced intentions to push for EU sanctions against violent settlers. - Israel condemned the violence and opened an investigation, while the Prime Minister's office urged against hasty conclusions, noting the visit was not coordinated with the military. - The incident occurred amidst rising settler violence; a day earlier, settlers had severely injured Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine. 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. ## Accounts differ ### Assessment of attack circumstances and evidentiary standard - **EU delegation, eyewitnesses, and FMs of Belgium, France, Poland:** Masked settlers attacked the convoy without provocation, beat Mayor Baudoux, and damaged the Belgian vehicle; impunity must end and sanctions against violent settlers must be imposed. ([vietnam.vn](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/doan-ngoai-giao-eu-va-thi-truong-phap-bi-nguoi-dinh-cu-israel-tan-cong-o-bo-tay)) - **Israeli Prime Minister's Office:** Urged restraint from hasty conclusions, highlighted the need for "compelling evidence," and noted the diplomatic corps failed to coordinate with the military prior to the visit. ([vietnam.vn](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/doan-ngoai-giao-eu-va-thi-truong-phap-bi-nguoi-dinh-cu-israel-tan-cong-o-bo-tay)) *Where they agree:* The attack on the delegation occurred; Israel confirmed "serious acts of violence by Israeli rioters" and announced a police investigation. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [На Западном берегу израильские поселенцы напали на дипломатов ЕС и мэра французского города.](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/doan-ngoai-giao-eu-va-thi-truong-phap-bi-nguoi-dinh-cu-israel-tan-cong-o-bo-tay) - Primary source: attack details, delegation composition, quotes from Baudoux, the ministers, Sa'ar, the PM's office, and context on Levine and UN data. - [Израильские поселенцы атаковали дипломатов стран ЕС на Западном берегу](https://www.dw.com/ru/izrailskie-poselency-atakovali-diplomatov-iz-stran-es-na-zapadnom-beregu-nakanune-oni-izbili-zurnalistku-the-washington-post/a-79689159) - Confirms mayor's age (78), lack of hospitalization, injured French diplomat, and damaged Belgian vehicle; cites AFP. - [Израильские поселенцы на Западном берегу напали на группу европейских дипломатов. Накануне ...](https://theins.ru/news/298419) - Video details: car pelted with stones, broken glass, seven masked men on quads; Belgian FM quote. - [Израильские поселенцы напали на евродипломатов, избили престарелого мэра и журналистку](https://rtvi.com/news/izrailskie-poselenczy-napali-na-evrodiplomatov-izbili-prestarelogo-mera-i-zhurnalistku/) - Confirms victims (Poland, France, Belgium) and link to the journalist attack. ## FAQ ### Who was harmed in the Taybeh attack? According to European foreign ministries and witnesses, a French diplomat and 78-year-old Aulnoye-Aymeries Mayor Bernard Baudoux were injured, the latter beaten with an iron bar; a Belgian vehicle was damaged. The mayor did not require hospitalization. ### How did Israel respond? Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the violence and announced an investigation, noting the delegation did not coordinate the visit with the military. The PM's office urged caution and demanded compelling evidence. ### What happened on the eve of the attack on the delegation? On October 16, West Bank settlers attacked Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine while she was covering the olive harvest; she suffered serious injuries and required surgery.