Source The United Nations
Palestine Council Briefing
Media www.rajawalisiber.com – The Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, told the Security Council that he is “extremely concerned that current dynamics – particularly in the occupied West Bank – could spiral out of control at any time.”
Encouraging leaders on both sides to make difficult, but critical, decisions, Wennesland said that “the irresponsible and provocative language and incitement to violence must stop.”
The Special Coordinator noted that “positive Israeli economic measures towards the Palestinians are regularly undermined by parallel negative steps, such as settlement advancement, demolitions and continued violence.”
At the same time, Wennesland said, “the dire fiscal and financial forecast facing the Palestinian Authority looms, amidst a lack of prospects for real institutional reform.”
The Special Coordinator told Council members that, “regrettably, recent weeks have been filled with the familiar pattern of daily violence, including armed clashes, settlement expansion, evictions, demolitions and seizures of Palestinian structures, as well as a deadly terrorist attack in Israel.”
Wennesland started his briefing by acknowledging the killing of the Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh, saying that “her death brought Palestinians, and countless others around the world, together in grief and anger, while serving as another reminder of the devastating human cost of this conflict.”
Sending his deepest condolences to her family, Wennesland reiterated the Secretary-General’s condemnation of all attacks against journalists and his call for relevant authorities to carry out an independent and transparent investigation.
“Those responsible must be held accountable,” the Special Coordinator said.
The Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, also addressed the killing of the journalist, saying it represented “the same story she was telling”, but “the difference is that this time the world knew the victim.”
Mansour added, “We are not being killed because of what we do, we are being killed because of who we are. We are not being killed by mistake, but as part of a grand design aiming to make sure we all understand no one is safe, we all live with fear in our hearts and surrender.”
Speaking for Israel, Deputy Permanent Representative Noa Furman said that “enough is enough” and urged the Council to stop adopting “dangerous narratives.”
“By promoting the lies of the Hamas and Hezzbolah, they’re legitimized, and once legitimized violence will occur,” Furman said.
The diplomat also said that “all people, whether Jewish, Christian, Muslim or any other denomination, hold the right to enjoy the holy city of Jerusalem and this right will always be upheld.”