The UN calls for “immediate steps” to “reverse negative trends” in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

He underlines that “the fragility of the political and security situation” is “highly worrying”

June 28. (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United Nations has called for “immediate steps” to “reduce tensions” and “reverse negative trends” in the face of increased violence in the West Bank and Israel in recent months, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 50 Palestinians and some 15 people — eleven Israelis and three foreigners — in Israel.

“I would like to express my alarm at the levels of violence we have witnessed over the past few months in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Israel,” said UN envoy for the Middle East peace process, Tor Wennesland.

Thus, he highlighted in an appearance before the UN Security Council that “since mid-March, 49 Palestinians have died in demonstrations, clashes, Israeli security operations (…), attacks and alleged attacks against Israelis and violence related to the settlers.

“The period has also been marked by the most serious terrorist attacks in years in Israel, in which eleven Israelis and three foreigners died,” he stated, while stressing that “the firing of a rocket from Gaza towards Israel, the first since April, is also a worrying reminder of the fragility of the situation in the Strip.”

In this sense, he stressed that this increase in violence “has been fueled and exacerbated by provocative steps and incendiary rhetoric”, for which he has asked the parties to work to avoid measures that “undermine the possibilities of a two-way solution conflict states”.

“This requires not only specific actions to defuse crises and maintain calm, but redouble efforts to strengthen the Palestinian Authority and support a comprehensive strategy that can ensure that the collective efforts of the parties and the international community are directed towards a two-pronged reality. states,” he argued.

For this reason, he has pointed out that violence “increases mistrust” and “undermines a peaceful resolution of the conflict.” “The violence must stop and all those responsible must be held accountable,” she said, while he stressed that the attacks in Israel “can never be justified and must be clearly condemned by all.”

Wennesland has further condemned the killing of Palestinians, including children, at the hands of security forces, “particularly in relation to incidents that do not appear to pose an imminent threat to life.” In this sense, she has highlighted that to date 15 Palestinian children have died in the West Bank.

“I regret the death of the journalist Shirín abu Aklé and I am shocked by the behavior of some Israeli security agents in the context of her funeral,” he said, while reiterating his call for an “independent and transparent” investigation. “.

EXPANSION OF THE SETTLEMENTS

On the other hand, Wennesland has denounced that “the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, continues to be deeply worrying” and has recalled that “settlements constitute a flagrant violation of UN resolutions and International Law “.

“They undermine the possibility of achieving a two-state solution by systematically eroding the possibility of establishing a contiguous, independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state,” he explained, calling on the Israeli government to “immediately cease the advance of any activity in the settlements”.

Likewise, he stressed that “the continued demolitions and seizures of Palestinian structures, including internationally financed humanitarian projects, are also worrying”, with a special emphasis on the situation in Masafar Yata.

“I call on the Government of Israel to end the demolition and seizure of Palestinian property, to prevent the possible displacement and eviction of Palestinians, in line with its obligations under international law, and to approve plans that allow Palestinians in the Area C and occupied East Jerusalem to buy legally and address their development needs,” he said.

In this way, he has emphasized that “the fragility of the political and security situation, particularly in the occupied West Bank, is highly worrying”, before arguing that “the persistence of the factors of conflict and the lack of political will to changing course has empowered extremists and is undermining the perception between Palestinians and Israelis that it is possible to resolve the conflict.

“As the events of recent months have shown once again, managing the conflict in perpetuity is not a viable option. There is no substitute for a legitimate political process that resolves the core issues driving the conflict,” he argued.

For this reason, Wennesland has demanded that the Israeli, Palestinian and regional authorities “take steps that allow the parties to regain the path towards negotiated and significant solutions and, finally, towards peace”.