Israeli settlers attack European delegation convoy in West Bank, beat French mayor

Israeli settlers on Saturday attacked a convoy of European diplomats as they toured the occupied West Bank, beating up a visiting French mayor, a witness and two diplomats told AFP. Read moreUS journalist injured during Israeli settler attack on West Bank olive harvest Footage shared by a diplomat appeared to show Bernard Baudoux, 78, the leftist mayor of the northern town of Aulnoye-Aymeries, slumped on the ground against a car. Two diplomats and a resident confirmed his identity, with one diplomat saying his condition did not appear life-threatening. To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. The Israeli Defense Forces "strongly condemned" the attack on X, adding that its soldiers have started to collect evidence for an investigation. The statement also said that "according to preliminary inquiry, no IDF soldiers were present at the scene at the time of the attack." The country's foreign minister also condemned the "rioters", a rare statement critical of settlers by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing government. "I strongly condemn the severe acts of violence by Israeli rioters in the area of Taybeh," Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said, while also faulting the diplomats for not coordinating with the Israeli military. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)