Escalating Settler Violence Targets Palestinians and Diplomats During West Bank Olive Harvest

The European Union has strongly condemned escalating Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians and Western diplomats in the occupied West Bank, coinciding with a surge in settler pogroms during the Palestinian olive harvest season. In a statement on Sunday, the EU called for "full accountability" and "effective measures to prevent continued acts of violence and violent harassment against Palestinians, including during the ongoing olive harvest season, as well as against journalists." The bloc also urged Israel to "fully abide by International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law, and to cease the expansion of settlements." This year's settler attacks during the olive harvest have already surpassed 2025 totals, with critics arguing that mere condemnations from the EU and its member states, without holding Israel accountable, will not deter these violent acts, which are reportedly granted impunity by Israeli authorities.

Saturday's incident saw masked settlers attack vehicles carrying diplomats from France, Belgium, and Poland near the Palestinian Christian village of Taybeh. Witnesses and media reports indicate that at least seven masked settlers surrounded the vehicles, demanded identification, smashed a Belgian consulate vehicle window, and assaulted the French mayor, Bernard Baudoux. The 78-year-old mayor described being "a bit shaken" and "violently attacked" despite wearing his mayoral sash. He stated that his group returned to their vehicles to leave, and he expressed a desire to return to the olive plantations due to their significance for the Palestinian people.

Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot confirmed that the country's consul general to the Palestinians, along with French and Polish diplomats and Catholic representatives, were among those attacked. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called on the Israeli government to arrest the settlers involved and to "urgently put an end to this criminal violence and ensure the safety of the civilian population." The assault has prompted an Israeli police investigation, as settler pogroms continue to disrupt the Palestinian harvest across the occupied territory.

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed that the Trump administration was "very disturbed" by images of a settler attack on American photojournalist Heidi Levine, 64, who works as a freelance photojournalist for The Washington Post. Speaking to reporters, Rubio urged Israel to "crack down" on the violence, stating that President Donald Trump does not want to see "friction" or "a crisis" in the West Bank.

Palestinian political analyst and playwright Ahmed Najar told Al Jazeera that condemnations without consequences do not constitute accountability. He argued that Western governments' continued arming, funding, and diplomatic protection of Israel, while treating settler attacks as isolated incidents, ignores the wider system of occupation, settlement expansion, and impunity that enables such violence. Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, former EU representative to the occupied West Bank and Gaza, echoed this sentiment, calling the EU's protests "pathetic" for lacking concrete punitive measures and highlighting that this "settler terrorism has been going on for years with full impunity."

These attacks are not isolated. In recent weeks, Israeli settlers have intensified pogroms against Palestinians harvesting olives. Earlier on Saturday, settlers injured six Palestinians, including women and a child, in Ma’in village, south of Hebron, while Israeli forces reportedly arrested farmers. In Deir Ammar town, west of Ramallah, Israeli forces allegedly opened fire on farmers, forcing them to leave their land, with settlers also reportedly opening fire and injuring two Palestinians. In Kafr Malek, northeast of Ramallah, settlers raided a farm and killed approximately 20 sheep. In the Beit Furik plain, east of Nablus, settlers reportedly destroyed olive trees while Israeli forces arrested landowners and olive pickers. In Deir Jarir village, east of Ramallah, settlers, reportedly under army protection, fired live ammunition at farmers to prevent them from harvesting, and also smashed an international activist's vehicle and threw stones at a farmer's vehicle.

Friday's and Saturday's incidents followed the killing of Ali Hassan Yasser al-Bazzari, 44, during an assault on Palestinians picking olives near Burqa, northwest of Nablus, on October 7. Journalists documenting the violence have also been targeted. Veteran freelance journalist Heidi Levine was attacked near Abu Falah on Friday, reportedly being kicked repeatedly after falling to the ground. Her cameras and phone were taken. On October 6, armed settlers beat AFP news agency photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh, 58, with rifle butts near Aqraba, south of Nablus, resulting in injuries.

The surge in settler pogroms during the olive harvest season is a recurring issue. Israeli rights group Yesh Din documented 377 incidents of violence involving settlers and soldiers in the two weeks leading up to October 10. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported nearly 200 settler attacks linked to the olive harvest causing casualties or property damage so far this year, exceeding the 185 incidents recorded during the entire 2025 season. Settlers reportedly use this period to assert control over agricultural lands, block Palestinians from their groves, steal crops, or build on private Palestinian property. The olive harvest is a critical economic lifeline for an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 Palestinian families. Najar explained that settlers target this period to disrupt the harvest, inflict financial damage, force families off their land, and deter international observers. Al Jazeera's Odeh suggested that upcoming elections have emboldened settlers, with some reportedly receiving religious edicts sanctioning the theft of olive harvests.

The Israeli military condemned Saturday's attack on diplomats and stated an investigation has been opened, asserting its soldiers were not present during the incident. However, reports indicate that settler attacks have historically occurred with the protection or passive stance of the Israeli army. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office questioned the reports of the attack on Europeans, calling them "alleged" and requiring "compelling evidence," despite acknowledging published footage. Israeli opposition figures have criticized Netanyahu, stating that such actions undermine Israel's standing.