Chronology of West Bank assaults on Palestinians and foreign officials

European diplomats and other officials were attacked on Saturday as settler violence surged across the occupied West Bank during the olive‑harvest season, just weeks before Israel’s election on October 27.

The European Union condemned the assaults on both European representatives and Palestinians on Sunday, following an earlier attack on a veteran Washington Post journalist.

**October 17, 2026 – Assault on European diplomats near Taybeh**
A group of Israeli settlers confronted a delegation of European officials, including a French mayor, while the visitors were meeting Palestinian olive pickers near the village of Taybeh. The settlers targeted Belgium’s consul‑general, French and Polish diplomats, and Catholic representatives. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot said a French mayor was assaulted and a Belgian vehicle was damaged, linking the incident to Israel’s “illegal settlement policy” and promising to push for further EU sanctions.

Bernard Baudoux, the French mayor who was attacked, told AFP that the assault showed “there is a tolerance on the part of the Israeli government” toward settler violence. Video shared by activist Amit Orfali shows Baudoux leaning against a vehicle on dusty ground while masked men knocked on a driver’s side window, demanded identification and threatened to kill them.

France’s foreign minister Jean‑Noël Barrot called on Israel to arrest the “extremist settlers” who “violently assaulted” Baudoux and to bring them to justice, urging an immediate halt to the criminal violence and protection of civilians under international law.

Israel’s prime‑ministerial office responded on X, describing the reports as “alleged” and saying they required “compelling evidence,” even as it acknowledged the existence of published footage. The EU statement praised Israeli officials who condemned the attacks but demanded full accountability and measures to prevent further violence against Palestinians and journalists during the olive harvest.

**October 16, 2026 – Attack on journalist Heidi Levine**
Settlers violently assaulted Palestinian olive‑harvesters and 64‑year‑old American journalist Heidi Levine, a freelancer for the Washington Post. Witness Jasper Nathaniel, an independent reporter, told Al Jazeera that Levine fell to the ground and was repeatedly beaten, clubbed, robbed and kicked, estimating about fifty kicks. She wore a press‑vest marked “PRESS,” but her cameras and phone were taken.

Nathaniel and others managed to reach Levine when the settlers briefly stepped back, but she remained in a very poor condition and could not stand. As they escorted her to paramedics, the settlers resumed the attack, hurling stones. Levine was later taken to a hospital in Ramallah.

Nathaniel said Israeli soldiers arrived after the settler assault, opened fire, used tear gas, and shot a Palestinian man in the leg. He accused the soldiers of failing to stop the settlers, pointing guns at paramedics, and shoving journalists. The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported live ammunition and tear gas were used against Palestinians. After the soldiers left, the olive harvest resumed.

Netanyahu’s office said the facts surrounding the assault “remain unclear,” offering a conditional condemnation and calling for an investigation to establish who initiated the violence.

**October 6, 2026 – Beating of AFP photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh**
Near Aqraba, south of Nablus, Israeli settlers attacked AFP photographer Jaafar Ashtiyeh, 58, striking him with rifle butts. He sustained bruises to his head and torso.