Israeli settlers attack European diplomats

JERUSALEM, Oct 18: Israeli settlers attacked a convoy of European diplomats in the West Bank and beat up a visiting French mayor on Saturday, witnesses said, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned against a brewing "crisis" in the territory a day after an American photojournalist was injured in a brutal attack.

Violence is surging ahead of bitterly fought October 27 elections, coinciding with Palestinians' annual olive harvest which has been repeatedly disrupted by Israeli settlers as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to shore up his pro-settlement right-wing base.�" AFP