UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council issued a statement on Tuesday, urging Israel and the Palestinians to refrain from actions that could exacerbate tensions in the volatile West Bank. This united stance by the council, supported by both the United States and Russia, highlights the widespread international concern regarding the escalating violence, particularly involving Israeli forces and settlers.
The statement came in response to what UN Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland described as “an alarming spike in violence” in the West Bank, resulting in numerous casualties among Palestinians and Israelis. Wennesland cautioned that without decisive action to quell the violence, there is a significant risk of further deterioration in the situation.
Of particular concern to Wennesland was the “extreme levels of settler violence,” which involved armed settlers systematically attacking Palestinian villages and terrorizing communities, sometimes with support from Israeli forces. The Security Council members called for restraint and encouraged additional measures to restore a lasting calm and de-escalate tensions.
This year has witnessed one of the deadliest periods for Palestinians in the West Bank in recent years, with a significant escalation of settler violence occurring last week. Since the beginning of 2023, at least 137 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank, while 24 people on the Israeli side have lost their lives in Palestinian attacks.
US and Russia Support UN Security Council’s Call
The United States, as Israel’s closest ally, expressed its support for the council’s statement. US deputy ambassador Robert Wood affirmed the Biden administration’s shared alarm with Wennesland’s observations. Wood condemned the recent terror attack against Israelis near the West Bank town of Eli and the extremist settler attacks against Palestinian civilians, emphasizing that the United States condemns such acts in the strongest terms.
Amid the escalating violence, there was widespread criticism from council members regarding Israel’s far-right government’s plans to construct over 5,000 new homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and expedite settlement approvals. Under international law, all Israeli settlements in occupied territory are considered illegal.
Wennesland warned that Israel’s continuous expansion of settlements is fueling violence, impeding Palestinian access to their land and resources, reshaping the geography of the occupied West Bank, and threatening the viability of a future Palestinian state.
The United States expressed deep concern over Israel’s announcement of new settlement homes and reports of measures to expedite planning and approval. Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia also voiced serious concerns, pointing to the recent Israeli raid in the Jenin Refugee Camp, clashes between settlers and Palestinians, and intensified Israeli efforts to expand and legalize settlements.
Nebenzia reiterated Russia’s call for a meeting with the Arab League and neighboring countries to reinvigorate long-stalled talks and emphasized that the situation will remain volatile until negotiations resume toward a two-state solution, envisioning peaceful coexistence between Israel and the Palestinians.
