Israeli settlers attack European diplomats, beat French mayor

This amateur footage shows Israeli settlers surrounding a diplomatic convoy in the occupied West Bank. On Saturday, witnesses reported that settlers attacked a convoy of European diplomats, as well as a visiting French mayor, who later recounted his experience. I had on my mayor's sash, on with the blue, white and red colours, which clearly represent the symbol of France, in an attempt to protect the people around me. Well, that was not enough and I was attacked, violently attacked, protected by the people who were there to try and limit things. I was thrown to the ground. The incident comes a day after dozens of masked settlers attacked Palestinians harvesting olives in the occupied West Bank, an attack which saw a US photojournalist hospitalised. On Saturday, the US Secretary of State described the recent settler violence as, quote, disturbing. The president's been very clear. He's said this repeatedly. He does not want to see friction or anything, a crisis going on in the West Bank. Now, I understand that these are groups that are out there doing it, and the president's been repeatedly clear when he said that he doesn't want to see that. He doesn't want to see a new spark. The Israeli prime minister, meanwhile, has sought to cast doubt over the circumstances of the attack on the diplomats. On Saturday, his office alleged that a smear campaign was underway against settlers. Israeli police stated that they have launched an investigation into the incident. Over the past three years, settler attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have surged. Some Israeli officials have insisted it is carried out by a small minority. Palestinians and human rights groups reject that characterization.