French Mayor Beaten by Israeli Settlers in Occupied West Bank Diplomatic Convoy Attack
They arrived really unleashed,
Bernard Baudoux recounted after masked Israeli settlers attacked a European diplomatic convoy in the occupied West Bank, beating the 78-year-old French mayor with iron bars. The Saturday raid targeted vehicles from the French, Belgian, and Polish diplomatic missions as they visited Taybeh, a predominantly Christian village, to sign a local cooperation agreement. Witnesses reported that the assailants hurled aggressive statements against the delegation before singling out Baudoux, the mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries in northern France, who wore his tricolor mayoral sash during the visit.
Diplomatic Outrage Follows West Bank Assault
International condemnation mounted swiftly following the Saturday violence. Jean-Noël Barrot called on Israeli authorities to arrest the perpetrators immediately and bring them to justice, condemning the acts as revolting. The Belgian government added its condemnation with the utmost firmness, noting that a Belgian diplomatic vehicle sustained damage during the melee. Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee demanded the prosecution and imprisonment of settlers involved in a separate attack a day earlier against a Washington Post photographer, labeling that incident an ignoble act of terror by masked cowards.
Conflicting Official Israeli Responses to West Bank Violence
Gideon Saar condemned the grave acts of violence and blamed Israeli rioters, while simultaneously criticizing the European consulates for failing to coordinate the diplomatic visit with the Israel Defense Forces. In contrast, the office of Benjamin Netanyahu denounced what it termed a coordinated defamation campaign against Israel and Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria during the annual olive harvest, arguing that reports relied on sensationalist headlines before all facts were established. Netanyahu, whose government supports settlement in the occupied West Bank, is a candidate for reelection in the legislative elections on October 27.
French diplomat and mayor Bernard Baudoux was injured following an attack by Israeli settler gangs targeting a European diplomatic delegation in the village of Al-Taybeh, east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank today. pic.twitter.com/NVq3dU2AIH
Olive Harvest Violence Escalates Across the Territory
The diplomatic convoy attack occurred amid a sharp surge in violence intended to disrupt the annual Palestinian olive harvest across the territory occupied since 1967. A day before the incident at Taybeh, settlers severely injured American photojournalist Heidi Levine while she covered the harvest, following a similar beating suffered by an Agence France-Presse photographer the previous week. Local clergy reported that settlers had previously torn up olive trees and struck elderly villagers in Taybeh, leaving victims requiring hospital stitches. La Cisjordanie a connu des attaques quasi quotidiennes de colons contre des Palestiniens depuis le début de la guerre à Gaza en 2023, entraînant plus de 1 100 morts palestiniens, en majorité par des soldats israéliens, ainsi qu’une cinquantaine de morts israéliens dans des attaques palestiniennes ou lors d’opérations militaires sur la même période.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Diplomatic Convoy Attack
Why was the French mayor visiting Taybeh when the attack occurred?
Bernard Baudoux traveled to the predominantly Christian village of Taybeh alongside the French consul general in Jerusalem and a local priest to sign a formal cooperation agreement between their respective municipalities.
What injuries did the French official sustain during the raid?
Baudoux was thrown to the ground and beaten with iron bars by masked settlers. Although he suffered no life-threatening injuries and was able to continue parts of his itinerary, video footage showed him slumped against a vehicle wearing his tricolor mayoral sash.
How did Israeli leadership officially respond to the incident?
Gideon Saar condemned the violence and blamed rioters while faulting the diplomats for lacking military coordination. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office rejected the reports as part of a coordinated defamation campaign timed ahead of the October 27 legislative elections.
Keep reading