Bernard Baudoux, the mayor of the French town Aulnoye-Aymeries, recently experienced a harrowing encounter while on a diplomatic mission to the West Bank town of Taybeh. During a goodwill visit aimed at fostering cooperation between the two communities, Baudoux and his delegation were suddenly accosted by a group of Israeli settlers. The mayor, who was wearing his ceremonial French tricolor sash, reported that the individuals arrived in multiple vehicles and launched an unprovoked, violent assault that involved physical blows and strikes from iron bars.

Following the incident, Baudoux expressed deep concern regarding the apparent impunity enjoyed by those responsible for such acts. He argued that the aggression he witnessed is symptomatic of a broader tolerance for settler violence within Israel's current right-wing government. While he managed to escape without severe injuries and complete his visit, the mayor emphasized that his brief experience is a daily reality for local Palestinians. He voiced skepticism that the promised Israeli investigation would lead to any meaningful accountability, calling instead for the international community to take a closer look at the ongoing situation in the region.