Masked Settlers Beat Diplomats and Break Journalist’s Bones as Olive Harvest Violence Explodes
Violence during the Palestinian olive harvest has escalated sharply, with Israeli settlers attacking farmers, European diplomats, and a Washington Post journalist in the occupied West Bank.
Israeli settlers have launched a wave of attacks on Palestinian olive farmers across the occupied West Bank, beating a French mayor, injuring a Washington Post photographer, and assaulting European diplomats in incidents that human rights groups describe as a systematic campaign to drive Palestinians from their land.
The annual olive harvest — a vital source of income and cultural identity for Palestinian families — has become increasingly dangerous as settler violence intensifies [263803][267345]. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have characterized the situation as a "tsunami of Jewish terrorism" ahead of Israel's parliamentary elections on October 27, documenting methods settlers use to force Palestinians off their land [266070].
In one of the most serious incidents, a 78-year-old French mayor was beaten by masked settlers who shouted defamatory comments about France, kicked him, and struck him with iron bars as he accompanied Palestinian olive farmers [265035]. Bernard Baudoux, mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, was wearing his red, white and blue sash of office when he was assaulted and knocked to the ground while attempting to enter a vehicle with diplomatic plates [265250]. The attack injured three people and damaged a car [265250].
European diplomatic vehicles were also damaged in a separate incident, adding to rising tensions in the West Bank [264652]. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned of a growing "crisis" in the territory following the attacks [265035].
In a separate assault, Washington Post photographer Heidi Levine was attacked by masked Israeli settlers while documenting the Palestinian olive harvest [265210]. She sustained five broken bones, including broken vertebrae, and the attackers stole her passport, telephone, wallet, and equipment [265168][265210]. The US ambassador to Israel called on Israeli authorities to prosecute those responsible for what he described as an "act of terror" [265168]. Press freedom organizations, human rights groups, and US officials have condemned the attack [265210].
Amnesty International has launched a global campaign to stop what it describes as ethnic cleansing in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, saying settler violence has risen sharply during the olive harvest season and calling for international action [267330].
Israeli forces also injured two Palestinians and attacked an ambulance in the occupied West Bank, according to official Palestinian media. The attacks targeted Palestinian homes near Ramallah, Nablus and Hebron, and electricity was cut to two houses [265577]. In the town of Abu Falah, a 63-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man were hospitalized after an attack, the Palestinian Red Crescent said [263445].
The olive harvest has been repeatedly disrupted by Israeli settlers, witnesses say [265168]. The violence has drawn condemnation from European diplomats, US officials, and international human rights organizations, who are calling for accountability and international action to protect Palestinian farmers and journalists documenting the harvest.