The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Saturday that the U.S. is urging Israel to take more measures to stop Israeli settlers from attacking Palestinians in the West Bank. Recent incidents of attacks have raised international concern, with American journalists and European diplomats being targeted.
Rubio, during a media interview in Washington, expressed deep concern over the images and events, stating that the U.S. has asked Israel to intensify efforts to halt such violent acts and will continue to make this demand. He mentioned that the U.S. State Department has inquired about the situation and expects a report from the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem on the 18th.
On October 16, near the village of Abu Falah in the West Bank, an attack took place where about 80 Israeli settlers in black clothes and masks entered an olive grove and threw stones at Palestinian farmers harvesting olives, as well as setting olive trees on fire.
Photographer Heidi Levine from The Washington Post was present at the scene and was pushed to the ground and assaulted by multiple attackers, resulting in her hospitalization. At least two people were injured in the incident.
Following the arrival of Israeli military personnel, the conflict continued. The military stated that warning shots were fired before opening fire when individuals were perceived as a threat. The Israeli police have initiated an investigation into the event.
On October 17, another attack occurred near the village of Taybeh in the West Bank. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot mentioned that the victims included the Belgian Consul General in Palestine, French and Polish diplomats, Catholic representatives, and a Belgian diplomatic vehicle was damaged.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the violent acts and emphasized the need for diplomatic personnel to coordinate with the Israeli military before traveling to ensure safety in the area. The Israeli police have started an investigation into the incidents.
The attacks took place during the annual olive harvest season in the West Bank. Olive cultivation and oil production are crucial sources of income for Palestinian rural residents. Conflicts often erupt during harvest time due to land use and security issues near Israeli settlements and outposts.
The West Bank is a significant disputed region in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel has controlled the area since the 1967 Third Middle East War and has continued to establish settlements. Currently, there are around 500,000 Israeli settlers and over 3 million Palestinians in the region.
According to the Israeli monitoring organization Yesh Din, since the olive harvest season began around September 27, at least 170 attacks involving Israeli settlers have occurred in the West Bank.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denounced the violence by settlers in the West Bank multiple times, stating that such actions are illegal and tarnish Israel’s international image, calling for law enforcement to hold the perpetrators accountable.