JERUSALEM, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Israeli police on Monday arrested 10 suspects as part of an investigation into violent incidents involving foreigners in the West Bank over the weekend, including separate attacks targeting a Washington Post photographer and a European diplomatic delegation.
The rare move follows growing international alarm over settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank.
With national elections scheduled for next week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now faces growing international demands for accountability while managing tight political dependencies at home.
ATTACK ON DIPLOMATS DRAWS PRESSURE
The European diplomats were there to assess the situation in the West Bank amid escalating attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians trying to bring in their olive harvest, media reports said.
Though police have not identified the suspects, local media said they were Israeli settlers.
Netanyahu's office responded to the incident by noting the diplomats' visit hadn't been coordinated with the Israeli military and questioning how the event unfolded.
The European Union condemned the attack, called for accountability, and urged a halt to settlement expansion.
An Israeli official familiar with Israel-EU relations told the Israeli news website Ynet that Brussels' reaction was partly restrained due to Israel's upcoming election, as the EU seeks to avoid accusations of interference.
Monday's arrests marked a rare step, with critics questioning whether it was merely a temporary move under diplomatic pressure.
NETANYAHU'S ELECTORAL DILEMMA
Political calculations remain central to the Israeli government's approach. Netanyahu's ruling coalition relies heavily on far-right partners, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, both strong advocates of settlement expansion.
Netanyahu therefore faces a delicate political balancing act. On one hand, he seeks to avoid alienating right-wing voters who favor expansion policies in the West Bank. On the other hand, failing to address attacks on foreign nationals risks alienating Western allies.
Political tensions have surfaced internally. Ben-Gvir alleged that Netanyahu assured European governments to shut him out of the next coalition.
Unverified or not, the claim highlights friction within the coalition. With polls showing a tight race for a 61-seat parliamentary majority, keeping Likud as the biggest bloc will be Netanyahu's opening bid for any post-election deal.
A TEST OF INTERNATIONAL STANDING
The arrest came as Western allies pile on diplomatic and economic pressure on Israel.
A coalition of 12 nations recently announced coordinated trade restrictions targeting Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Britain imposed a formal import ban on goods originating from the settlements, while the Netherlands implemented a trade ban on settlement products.
The moves mark a pivot from symbolic rhetoric to binding trade restrictions, though questions remain about whether they can exert meaningful pressure on Israel.
In a joint warning letter, 61 Israeli economists, including former central bank governors and finance ministry directors, cautioned that unchecked violence and settlement expansion pose a grave economic risk to Israel, warning that it could trigger wider restrictions and corporate divestment from Israel's banking and tech sectors.
Similarly, experts from the Israel Democracy Institute warned that unaddressed settler violence undermines Israel's international standing, noting growing friction in defense procurement, export markets and academic exchanges.
According to the institute's survey data, nearly two-thirds of Jewish Israelis, including a majority of right-wing voters, agree that violence against Palestinians damages Israel's international legitimacy. ■
