The current trajectory of escalating unrest between Israelis and
Palestinians is neither sustainable nor inevitable, UN Middle
East envoy Tor Wennesland told the Security Council on Tuesday,
delivering his latest report.
Mr. Wennesland expressed deep concern over recent violence and
inflammatory actions, particularly the violent confrontations
inside al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem earlier this month.
He urged the sides, regional States and the international
community, to show leadership, re-engage and work towards peace
and the vision of a two-State solution.
“There must be an end to the unilateral measures, provocations
and incitement that enable violence and prevent progress toward
resolving this conflict and ending the occupation,”
he said.
Mounting deaths
Mr. Wennesland, officially the UN Special Coordinator for the
Middle East Peace Process, was briefing ambassadors during their
quarterly open debate on the region.
He reported that overall, 17 Palestinians were killed and 200
injured by Israeli forces during demonstrations, clashes,
search-and-arrest operations, attacks and alleged attacks against
Israelis, and other incidents.
Another 39 Palestinians were injured by Israeli settlers or other
civilians in shooting attacks, stone-throwing and other
incidents.
Meanwhile, four Israeli civilians were killed and 31 injured, by
Palestinians in shooting and ramming attacks, clashes, the
throwing of stones and Molotov cocktails, and other incidents.
A foreign national also was killed, and seven others
injured.
Clashes at Holy Sites
Mr. Wennesland reported that although the recent period of
overlapping religious holidays for Muslims, Christians and Jews
was mostly calm, it was marked by “shocking incidents of violence
at Holy Sites and tensions across the Occupied Palestinian
Territory and in Israel, with a brief escalation spilling over
into the region.”
He said the confrontations that erupted at Al-Aqsa Mosque came in
the wake of provocative calls and incitement from several
parties. Militants in Gaza and Lebanon fired dozens of
rockets towards Israel in response, which he condemned. The
Israeli Defense Forces subsequently carried out strikes in Gaza
and southern Lebanon.
Just days later, clashes occurred between Israeli police and
Orthodox Christians attempting to enter the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre for the Holy Fire ceremony, exceeding an attendance
limit enforced by Israeli authorities.
West Bank violence
Other violence in the occupied West Bank and in Israel continued
during the reporting period, he said.
Israeli military operations resulted in many Palestinian
casualties, including four deaths during a raid in Jenin in
March. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed two of those
killed as members of their armed wings.
Incidents also included the 7 April killing of two
British-Israeli sisters in a shooting attack in the West Bank by
perpetrators in a car with Palestinian plates. Their mother, who
was critically wounded, died three days later.
Levels of settler-related violence also remained high during the
quarter, while demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned
property continued to be a serious concern.
Support the Palestinian Authority
Mr. Wennesland noted that amidst the deteriorating situation on
the ground, the Palestinian Authority continues to face
significant fiscal and institutional challenges. UN
entities that provide support to the Palestinian people are also
facing significant funding shortfalls, which is impacting basic
service delivery.
He called for the parties and the international community to
strengthen Palestinian institutions, improve governance and
shore-up the fiscal health of the Palestinian Authority.
Concluding his remarks, Mr. Wennesland urged Israelis,
Palestinians, countries in the region and the international
community to show leadership, re-engage and work together in
pursuit of peace.
He said the goal is to end the occupation and resolve the
conflict in accordance with international law, relevant UN
resolutions and previous agreements to achieve the two-State
solution.
