UN: Death toll from violence in West Bank highest in years
The number of Palestinians killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank has not been this high in years. That says UN envoy Tor Wennesland, who is involved in the Middle East peace process.
He believes 2022 will be the deadliest year for Palestinians since 2005, the first year the United Nations kept records. More than 125 people have been killed in clashes between Israel and the Palestinians this year.
In the UN Security Council, Wennesland called on the Israeli and Palestinian governments to calm down immediately and start new negotiations. He spoke of a “death spiral of violence that is becoming increasingly difficult to contain”.
Tensions in their own ranks
Last month, 32 Palestinians, including six children, were killed in clashes with Israel, according to the UN. More than 300 Palestinians were injured. On the Israeli side, Palestinian violence has killed two and injured 25 civilians, according to the UN.
There are also tensions within their own ranks. Just last week, Israeli settlers in the West Bank attacked not only Palestinians but also Israeli activists and even Israeli military personnel. This caused great outrage within Israel itself.
Palestinian Authority
UN envoy Wennesland sees strengthening the Palestinian Authority as one of the solutions to the conflict. This Palestinian administration is headed by President Abbas, who is in a difficult position because of his cooperation with Israel in fighting militant groups. This can count on little understanding in Palestinian circles.
The UN ambassadors to Israel and the Palestinians have responded to the Security Council as expected. “Our people, our children and our youth are being murdered and they will not die in vain,” said Palestinian Ambassador Mansour. “Israel is trying to destroy the state of Palestine.”
Mansour again advocated a two-state solution. The idea of founding two independent states was enshrined in a UN resolution as early as 1947, but never got off the ground.
inventions about aggression
On the other hand, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Erdan accused his Palestinian counterpart of “lying about oppression and fabricating about aggression”. “Israel is in the midst of a wave of terror,” he told the Security Council.
In Erdan’s view, peace “can only be achieved through direct negotiations and mutual, I repeat mutual concessions”.
Source: NOS
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