UNITED NATIONS: The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, has voiced serious concerns regarding the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Wennesland reported to the UN Security Council in New York that more than 10,000 housing units had been advanced in these settlements in the past three months alone.
He stressed that such expansion deepens the occupation, exacerbates violence, obstructs Palestinian access to their land and resources, and systematically undermines the possibility of a Palestinian State within a two-state solution.
He added, “I call on the Government of Israel to cease all settlement activity and dismantle outposts immediately, in line with its obligations under international law.”
These remarks were in line with Security Council resolution 2334, which was adopted in December 2016 and demanded that Israel cease building new settlements on Palestinian land.
Furthermore, Wennesland expressed alarm at the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank and Israel, reaching levels not witnessed in decades. He lamented the use of increasingly deadly weaponry, even in densely populated areas.
Violence has resulted in casualties on both sides, with Palestinians, including children, being killed or injured during demonstrations, clashes, security operations, and attacks. Israelis, including security forces, have also suffered casualties.
Wennesland called for immediate measures to de-escalate tensions, condemning all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terrorism. He stressed that such actions can never be justified and must be condemned universally, with perpetrators held accountable and swiftly brought to justice.
In addition, Wennesland highlighted the funding shortfall affecting UN humanitarian agencies, specifically mentioning the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
He urged Member States to provide increased support. UNRWA urgently requires $75 million to continue providing food assistance through December to 1.2 million Palestinians in Gaza, while WFP needs $32 million for its aid efforts throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
In conclusion, the Special Coordinator emphasized that there is no substitute for a legitimate political process to address the core issues driving the conflict.
He reiterated his commitment to supporting both Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the decades of conflict “in pursuit of the vision of two States – Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, viable, and sovereign Palestinian State – living side by side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders, based on the pre-1967 lines, with Jerusalem as the shared capital of both States.” —APP
Middle East
