Iran Press/ America: Citing rising political tensions and the long-stalled peace process, Tor Wennesland said preventing more loss of life must go hand-in-hand with the international community’s ultimate goal - ending the Israeli occupation, resolving the conflict, and realizing a lasting two-State solution.
Mr. Wennesland briefed the Council on the heels of one of the deadliest years in the history of the conflict.
On 19 December, he reported that more than 150 Palestinians and over 20 Israelis had been killed in the West Bank and Israel, up to that point last year.
In his briefing this week, he said that during the latest reporting period - covering 8 December to 13 January - another 14 Palestinians were killed, including a 16-year-old boy shot during an arrest operation in Balata Refugee Camp in Nablus.
An additional 117 Palestinians were injured by Israeli security forces.
“Israelis and Palestinians remain on a collision course amid escalating political and inflammatory rhetoric, as well as heightened violence in the West Bank — both with potentially grave consequences,” the Special Coordinator warned.
Ongoing Israeli settlement activities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory are also igniting tensions.
On 2 January, the Israeli Government informed the High Court of Justice that it intends to legalize, under Israeli law, the outpost of Homesh - which is built on private Palestinian land.
Emphasizing that all such settlements are illegal under international law and remain a substantial obstacle to peace, the Special Coordinator told the Council that Israeli demolitions and seizures of Palestinian-owned property also continued through the reporting period.
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Israel claimed 220 Palestinian lives: Report
