A European diplomat responds to Netanyahu's skepticism: The facts of the settlers' attack are clear

Brussels - Ofoq News - A European diplomat who was attacked by Israeli settlers near the city of Ramallah in the central West Bank, yesterday, Saturday, responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s skepticism about the circumstances of the attack, stressing that the facts were clear, and that the delegation was indeed attacked.

The official Israeli Broadcasting Corporation quoted a European diplomat, whose identity was not revealed, saying: “The facts are clear. We were attacked.”

He added: "They ask us why we did not coordinate our arrival, but the State of Israel is responsible for security in Area B."

He continued: "It is not our fault that this happened. Why should people in the region be attacked? Why should diplomats be attacked? Why cannot olives be picked without being attacked?"

The European diplomat's statements came in response to a statement issued by Netanyahu in English, in which he questioned reports about colonists attacking European diplomats, demanding that "strong evidence" be presented to prove the accusations, despite the Israeli army's condemnation of the incident and opening an investigation into it.

Netanyahu's office said in a statement, "Serious accusations require strong evidence."

Netanyahu's skepticism comes despite the Israeli army's condemnation of an attack by colonists on European diplomats near Ramallah, and its announcement of opening an investigation in cooperation with the police to collect evidence and testimonies and determine the identity of the assailants.

The attack also sparked criticism within Israel, as the head of the opposition Yashar Party, Gadi Eisenkot, accused Netanyahu's government of sponsoring what he described as "Jewish terrorism" in the West Bank.

Eisenkot warned that the colonists' attacks on foreigners constitute an "unprecedented political and security attack" that harms Israel's international standing and national security.