Israeli settlement expansion in West Bank must be treated as emergency, UN official says
The situation in the West Bank must be "treated as an emergency", a UN official said on Tuesday, as settler violence and recent action by Israeli authorities on settlement expansion threaten to derail the fragile peace process. "The concern is not only the continued expansion of the settlements , but the speed and systematic manner in which new facts are being created," Ramiz Alakbarov, deputy…
A UN official has called for the Israeli expansion of settlements in the West Bank to be treated as an emergency, citing the speed and systematic nature of the ongoing construction. Ramiz Alakbarov, deputy special coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, emphasized the significant resources allocated by Israeli authorities for this purpose, with $431 million set aside in mid-July to support 34 new settlements.
He warned that these actions are reshaping the West Bank, weakening Palestinian governments and advancing annexation.
The West Bank has experienced some of its worst violence in recent months, with settlers storming into Palestinian communities, attacking people and property, often with the protection or participation of Israel's military. Over 1,100 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since October 2023, with 76 so far this year, according to the UN. Military raids have led to the detention of hundreds of Palestinians.
Jay Dharmadhikari, France's deputy UN spokesman, stated that the situation poses a direct threat to regional stability and the viability of the two-state solution. China urged swift action to curb the violence, with Beijing's UN representative, Fu Cong, emphasizing that any hesitation or skepticism towards the two-state solution is unacceptable.
Palestine's representative to the UN, Riyad Mansour, urged the Security Council to put its words into action, stressing that Israel's actions are a violation of international law and must be held accountable.
Israel and the US rejected claims that settlers were acting with impunity, with the US representative highlighting Israel's condemnation of violence and increased actions to counter it, as well as the allocation of significant financial resources. Israel's representative to the UN, Danny Danon, accused the council of hypocrisy, stating that Israel is combating extremist violence in all forms and prosecuting those responsible.
He also condemned settler violence and maintained that Israel's presence in the West Bank is rooted in its historical connection to the land.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
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