📷 Image Credits: Al Jazeera English
The United Nations Security Council has once again urged Israel to stop its expansion of illegal settlements, in the Occupied West Bank. Members of the council unanimously agreed on the urgent need to avoid actions that could further escalate tensions in the volatile region. The recent spike in violence, with numerous casualties on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides, has raised serious concerns among the international community.
U.N. Mideast envoy Tor Wennesland highlighted the alarming levels of settler violence, with armed settlers attacking Palestinian villages and terrorizing communities, sometimes even with support from Israeli forces themselves. The Security Council emphasized the importance of restraint and encouraged additional steps to restore peace and de-escalate tensions.
The United States, a close ally of Israel, also expressed support for the council’s statement, condemning both the terrorist attacks against Israelis and the extremist settler attacks against Palestinian civilians. The U.S. deputy ambassador emphasized the need for all parties to refrain from actions that could further inflame the situation.
The Security Council heavily criticized Israel’s plans to build over 5,000 new homes in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and expedite settlement approvals. According to international law, all Israeli settlements in the occupied territory are considered illegal. The relentless expansion of settlements not only fuels violence but also poses a threat to the viability of a future Palestinian state.
The escalating violence, including a recent Israeli raid that killed seven Palestinians and intensified clashes between settlers and Palestinians, has heightened tensions in the region. Russia also expressed serious concern over the situation, emphasizing the need for negotiations on a two-state solution for lasting peace.
Palestinian representatives urged the council to take action against the Israeli government’s support for settler violence, which they view as an obstacle to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Meanwhile, Israel’s U.N. Ambassador defended the country’s actions, accusing the Palestinians of seeking the destruction of a Jewish state.
The Security Council’s call for de-escalation and a return to negotiations reflects the urgent need for peace and stability in the region. It remains to be seen how Israel and the Palestinians will respond to these latest calls for action.
