EU Condemns West Bank Settler Attacks on European Diplomats as Calls for Accountability Grow

SS: The European Union on October 18, 2026, strongly condemned attacks involving European diplomats, Palestinian civilians and other representatives in the occupied West Bank. The incidents were reported near Taybeh on October 17, during the Palestinian olive-harvest season. Belgium said its consul general, French and Polish diplomats, Catholic representatives and a French mayor were among those caught up in the violence. A Belgian diplomatic vehicle was also damaged. Israeli police said an investigation had been opened, while Israeli officials condemned the violence and raised questions about coordination of the delegation’s visit. The EU has called for accountability and effective measures to prevent further attacks, adding diplomatic pressure over the protection of civilians, journalists and foreign representatives.
The incident near Taybeh came a day after reports that American photojournalist Heidi Levine was seriously injured in a separate attack near Abu Falah in the occupied West Bank, attack that was condemned by the US ambassador to Israel.

I googled the name of the village—Taybeh—and came across an article describing it as the last Christian village in the West Bank, which begs the question, what happened to the Cristians of the West Bank? Where did they go?
Bethlehem was 85% Christian in 1950, but that fell to 12% in 2016. That’s a staggering decline.