Israeli settlers attack European diplomatic cars in West Bank beat French mayor

Israeli settlers attacked European diplomatic cars in the West Bank and beat a visiting French mayor.

On October 17, 2026, Israeli settlers attacked cars from the French, Belgian, and Polish diplomatic missions visiting Taybeh, a largely Christian village in the occupied West Bank. Witnesses said masked settlers sought to stop Palestinians from gathering olives and kicked Bernard Baudoux, 78, the mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, who was also beaten with iron bars but did not need hospital treatment. Baudoux was accompanying the French consul general to sign a goodwill cooperation agreement. He said the violence appeared tolerated and likely to go unpunished despite Israeli promises of an investigation.