Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, October 15, 2026, dismissed settler violence in the West Bank as a "tremendous hoax" perpetrated by a small group, days before Israeli police arrested 10 suspects in connection with recent attacks on European diplomats, a French mayor, and a U.S. photojournalist. These arrests follow mounting international pressure after a series of assaults during the annual olive harvest season.

The Prime Minister's statements come as international condemnation grows over the violence, highlighting a stark difference between official Israeli rhetoric and the experiences of victims, including foreign nationals and Palestinians.

What the records show

In a CNN interview on October 15, 2026, Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that settler violence was a "tremendous hoax". He attributed the actions to "about 150, 200 juvenile delinquents," asserting, "It's not settlers actually". Netanyahu has previously condemned the actions of a "handful of rioters" and downplayed accounts of extremist attacks on Palestinians. Following incidents involving European diplomats, he also warned against a "campaign to smear Israel".

However, in the days immediately following Netanyahu's remarks, multiple sources reported on violent incidents. On October 17, 2026, masked Israeli settlers attacked Bernard Baudoux, the Mayor of Aulnoye-Aymeries, France, in the occupied West Bank. Baudoux was participating in the Palestinian olive harvest alongside a convoy of European diplomats, including representatives from Belgium and Poland. This incident followed a separate attack by settlers that seriously injured U.S. photojournalist Heidi Levine near the Palestinian village of Abu Falah.

The timeline

On Thursday, October 15, 2026, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized settler violence as a "tremendous hoax" in a CNN interview. Two days later, on Saturday, October 17, a group of European diplomats and French Mayor Bernard Baudoux were attacked by masked settlers in the occupied West Bank. This occurred during the olive harvest, a day after a U.S. photojournalist was injured in a separate settler attack. By Monday, October 19, Israeli police detained 10 people in connection with these recent attacks.

What changed and for whom

Following the attacks on international figures, Israel faced increased pressure from various parties, including the United States, to investigate the violence. The European Union "strongly condemns" such attacks, according to its foreign policy spokesperson. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot denounced the attack on diplomats and called for accountability. France's Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs also strongly condemned the attack on Mayor Baudoux. This international outcry appears to have prompted Israeli authorities to take action, leading to the arrests of 10 individuals. Rights groups have stated that most inquiries into extremist assaults on Palestinians typically do not lead to results.

What the subject has said publicly

Prime Minister Netanyahu has consistently downplayed the severity of settler violence, describing it as the work of a small number of "juvenile delinquents" rather than a widespread issue among settlers. He has also stated that "serious accusations require serious evidence" when addressing claims of attacks on diplomats. Netanyahu has further warned against a "campaign to smear Israel" in response to such incidents.

What we could not confirm

This reporting does not specify the identities of the 10 individuals detained by Israeli police or the specific charges they face. It also does not detail the extent of injuries sustained by the European diplomats or Mayor Baudoux, beyond noting an American photojournalist was seriously injured.