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Netanyahu says 'smear' campaign targeting settlers as attack on French mayor draws condemnation

By · Via Middle East Eye · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Netanyahu accused a smear campaign targeting settlers of targeting French mayor Bernard Baudoux, while former army chief Gadi Eisenkot accused the government of sponsoring "Jewish terrorism." The attack on Baudoux, known for supporting the Palestinian cause, was condemned by the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, who called it a "despicable act of terror."

Key points

  • The smear campaign against settlers was condemned by international figures.: The smear campaign against settlers was condemned by international figures.
  • The attack on Baudoux, known for supporting the Palestinian cause, was called a "despicab…: The attack on Baudoux, known for supporting the Palestinian cause, was called a "despicable act of terror" by the US Ambassador to Israel.
  • The incident highlights tensions between Israeli settlers and the French mayor.: The incident highlights tensions between Israeli settlers and the French mayor.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday alleged a “smear” campaign against settlers, as the violent attack by Israeli settlers on a French mayor in the occupied West Bank drew international condemnation.

“These reports come amid concerns about a coordinated campaign to smear Israel and the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria during the annual olive harvest, relying on sensational headlines before the full facts emerge,” his office said in a statement, using the Israeli term for the occupied West Bank.

Netanyahu said the European diplomats should have coordinated their movements with the Israeli military, and pointed out that Bernard Baudoux, the 78-year-old mayor who was beaten by the Israeli settlers, is a communist known for supporting the Palestinian cause.

The Israeli prime minister's main rival in the upcoming election, former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, accused the government of sponsoring “Jewish terrorism” and said the violence was “burning away the little legitimacy the State of Israel still possesses”.

Later on Saturday, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee also joined France and Belgium in condemning the attack, calling it "a despicable act of terror carried out by masked cowards."

He urged Israel to jail those responsible.

Original source: www.middleeasteye.net

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