Settler attacks on West Bank olive harvest now hit European diplomats
Violent settlers struck foreign envoys in the occupied territory as Palestinians tried to pick olives. Belgium's foreign minister urged more EU sanctions, while Israel's military condemned the violence.
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What happened
Israeli settlers have torched olive groves and vehicles and assaulted Palestinian farmers and journalists during the harvest in the occupied West Bank. Masked settlers then attacked European diplomats, and a French mayor and an archbishop were also caught in the violence. Israel's military condemned the attacks, but the prime minister's office said the violence is part of a "smear" campaign.
Why it matters
Belgium's foreign minister linked the attack to Israel's "illegal settlement policy" and called for further EU sanctions.
Timeline
- Oct 16, 9:52 AM ET: Settlers were reported to be burning Palestinian olive groves in the towns of Abu Falah and Turmus Ayya.
- Oct 16, 10:06 AM ET: Settlers hurled rocks at Palestinians and beat photographer Heidi Levine, a Washington Post journalist.
- Oct 17, 1:02 PM ET: Masked settlers attacked European diplomats, prompting Belgium's foreign minister to urge further EU sanctions.
- Oct 17, 2:38 PM ET: The Israeli military condemned the violence, while the prime minister's office called it part of a "smear" campaign.
Coverage
- Jerusalem Daily: Israeli settlers attack farmers and journalists (Al Jazeera)
- Palestinians and US journalist injured by Israeli settlers in West Bank harvest attack (BBC)
- Israeli settlers attack olive farmers and Washington Post journalist in West Bank (The Guardian)
- Jerusalem Daily: Israeli settlers burn Palestinian olive groves (Al Jazeera)
- Palestinian olive trees torched as settler pogroms escalate during harvest (Al Jazeera)
- Israeli settlers attack Palestinians during olive harvest, and other Middle East developments (AP)
- Israel detains ten over West Bank assaults on photographer, EU envoys
- Settler violence in West Bank hits European diplomats during olive harvest
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