Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Condemns Settler Terrorism Against Diplomats, Church Representatives, and Civilians, Calls for Urgent International Action

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates strongly condemns the attack carried out by a group of Israeli settlers near the town of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, targeting a diplomatic delegation that included the Consuls General of France and Belgium, a representative of Poland, other diplomats, and representatives of the Catholic Church. The attack also involved the assault of a French mayor and damage to a Belgian vehicle.
The Ministry stresses that this incident is further evidence of escalating, organized settler terrorism targeting Palestinians, their land and property, as well as international diplomats, journalists, religious leaders, and solidarity activists. Such attacks are facilitated by the protection afforded to settlers by the Israeli government and the continued absence of accountability.
The Ministry holds the Israeli government, as the occupying power, fully responsible for these attacks and calls for an immediate end to settler terrorism, the protection of Palestinian civilians and international representatives, and accountability for all those responsible. Condemnations alone are no longer sufficient; concrete and deterrent measures are urgently needed.
The Ministry expresses full solidarity with all those targeted and commends Belgium, the EU, its member states, the UK, and other countries that have condemned settler terrorism. It urges them to take concrete action, including sanctions against perpetrators and those who enable them.
The Ministry stresses that settler terrorism is rooted in settlement expansion and forced displacement, in violation of international law. It calls for urgent international action to end impunity and the occupation, halt settlement activities, and secure the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination through an independent state on the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.