Belgium condemns settlers' attack on diplomats in the West Bank

Brussels, October 17 (KUNA) -- Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot today strongly condemned an attack by masked settlers in the West Bank town of Taybeh on Palestinians, the Belgian consul general, French and Polish diplomats, and representatives of the Catholic Church. In a post on his X social media account, the Belgian minister stated that the mayor of a French delegation was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle was damaged, but confirmed that his team was safe. He added that Palestinians face such violence daily, and that settlers also target journalists reporting on the events and diplomats, emphasizing that harvesting olives, reporting news, or carrying out diplomatic duties should not expose anyone to the risk of assault. He affirmed that the Israeli occupation authorities are obligated to protect Palestinians, ensure the safety of diplomats and journalists, and hold those responsible for these attacks accountable, stressing the urgent need to end the impunity enjoyed by settlers who commit acts of violence. Maxime noted that Belgium would continue to press for the European Union to impose sanctions on those responsible for this violence and on those who support them. He stressed that this violence cannot be separated from the policy of “illegal Israeli settlement expansion,” reaffirming his country’s condemnation of settlement expansion and attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their lands, and calling for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories. The Palestinian News Agency (Wafa) reported earlier today that masked settlers armed with clubs attacked delegations from European diplomatic missions attempting to reach the village of Taybeh, east of Ramallah. (End) A.R.N. / M.A.H.A.