AL-QUDS (Dispatches) – A dispute between the European Union and the Zionist regime broke out after European diplomats lodged a joint formal protest over “settler violence” against Palestinians in the West Bank, according to a report.
Israeli news website Walla reported that “diplomats and ambassadors from 16 European countries arrived at the Israeli foreign ministry in Jerusalem (Al-Quds) two weeks ago to hold a routine meeting with the head of the European Department at the Foreign Ministry, Aliza Bin Noun, regarding the situation in the West Bank.”
The portal quoted three European and Zionist regime diplomats, without mentioning their names, as saying that the meeting was tense.
According to the report, representatives of the European countries, led by the UK, attended the meeting to lodge a joint official protest over “settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.”
Bin Noun responded very “sharply and said that the European allegations were insulting,” the report said.
Some European diplomats, who attended the meeting, were quoted as saying that they were interested in having a professional and non-emotional dialogue on the issues that concern them, but Bin Noun refused to engage in a substantive discussion.
“European diplomats said that the atmosphere at the meeting was very difficult and that it got out of control very quickly.”
European countries called on the Zionist regime to stop the expansion project of settlements in Al-Quds.
Zionist and Palestinian estimates indicate there are about 650,000 settlers living in 164 settlements and 116 outposts in the West Bank, including in occupied Al-Quds.
Under international law, all settlements in occupied territories are considered illegal.
Scores of Palestinians were injured on Friday during clashes with Zionist troops, who dispersed anti-settlement protests in the occupied West Bank.
The Palestine Red Crescent ambulance service said 10 Palestinians were hit with rubber-coated bullets, while 44 others suffered breathing difficulties due to inhaling tear gas fired by Zionist troops during clashes in Beita, south of Nablus.
According to the report, five other Palestinians suffered different injuries during the clashes.
Since May, Beita has seen intensified clashes between Zionist troops and Palestinians protesting against a settlement outpost that has been established on Sobeih Mountain by settlers under the protection of regime forces.
To the east of Nablus, Zionist troops used rubber-coated bullets, tear gas, and sound bombs against Palestinian protesters who took to the streets of the village of Beit Dajan on Friday to condemn the occupying regime’s settlement expansion policy and the crimes committed by the Tel Aviv regime against the Palestinians.
During the clashes, 12 demonstrators were hit with rubber-coated bullets, while 20 others suffered breathing difficulties due to the tear gas.
Zionist troops also attacked a weekly anti-settlement protest in Kafr Qaddum, east of Qalqilya City, on Friday leaving tens of Palestinians injured.