American delegation visits Taybeh after settler attacks on diplomats and American journalist

An American delegation visited the Palestinian town of Taybeh east of Ramallah, following attacks by settlers on European diplomats and an American photojournalist. The delegation included the US Assistant Secretary of State and the ambassador to the Vatican. The visit came after an attack on diplomats from Belgium, France, and Poland, and in a separate incident, an assault on a Washington Post photographer.

A high-level American delegation visited the Palestinian town of Taybeh, east of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on Sunday, following attacks by Israeli settlers targeting European diplomats and an American photojournalist over the past two days. The delegation included Riley Barnes, US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, and Brian Burch, the US ambassador to the Vatican, along with several other diplomats. The delegation visited the Latin Church in the town and was expected to meet with members of the Christian community. The visit came after diplomats from Belgium, France, and Poland, along with a French mayor and Palestinian civilians, were attacked by masked settlers near Taybeh on Saturday. In a separate incident, Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine was taken to the hospital after being assaulted while covering the Palestinian olive harvest season. These attacks come amid a rise in settler violence against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank, and the American delegation's visit coincided with President Donald Trump's announcement of support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27.