The West Bank violence has shocked much of the world, with Britain spearheading economic sanctions that in turn led Israel to close the British consulate in Jerusalem.

Masked settlers attacked a group of European diplomats during a visit to the occupied West Bank on Saturday, Belgium's foreign minister said, on a second straight day of high-profile assaults on

The Israeli military condemns the violence but the prime minister's office says it is part of a "smear" campaign.

Masked settlers attacked a group of European diplomats in the occupied West Bank, a French mayor who was struck and others say.

BRUSSELS, Oct 17 - Masked settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank attacked Palestinians, Catholic representatives and Western diplomats and officials, Belgium's foreign minister said on Saturday. Read more at straitstimes.com.