Tor Wennesland, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, today said he was gravely concerned by the rise of violence in the occupied West Bank, particularly Israeli settler terrorism against Palestinian civilians. ‘I remain gravely concerned by the escalating spiral of violence we are witnessing in the occupied West Bank. I condemn all acts of violence against civilians, including all acts of terror, which exacerbate mistrust and undermine a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The violence must stop and all perpetrators must be held accountable,’ Wennesland said in his regular briefing to the UN Security Council in New York on the situation in the Middle East and the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016). ‘I am particularly alarmed by the extreme levels of settler violence, including large numbers of settlers, many armed, systematically attacking Palestinian villages, terrorizing communities, sometimes in the proximity of Israeli security forces. Israel, as the occupying Power, has an obligation to protect Palestinians and their property in the occupied Palestinian territory and to ensure prompt, independent, impartial, and transparent investigations into all acts of violence,’ he said, stressing, ‘Children in particular must never be the target of violence, used or put in harm’s way.’ The Special Coordinator said he remains ‘deeply troubled by the relentless expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, that fuels violence and is impeding access by Palestinians to their land and resources, reshaping the geography of the occupied West Bank and threatening the viability of a future Palestinian State,’ noting ‘with alarm’ the recent Israeli Government decision which will expedite settlement expansion in Area C of the occupied West Bank. ‘Israeli settlements constitute a flagrant violation of United Nations resolutions and international law. I call on the Government of Israel to cease the advancement of all settlement activity immediately,’ he said. He added, ‘I call upon the Israeli Government to end the demolition of Palestinian-owned property and prevent the possible displacement and eviction of Palestinians, in line with its obligations under international humanitarian and international human rights law. I urge Israel to approve plans that would enable Palestinian communities in Area C and East Jerusalem to build legally and address their development needs.’

Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA