Trump to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May: Report    Worshippers in Makkah and Madinah perform Eid Al-Fitr prayer    Saudi authorities shut down food factories and branches over suspected poisoning cases    Saudi Arabia welcomes formation of new Syrian government, expresses hope for stronger ties    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Defense, interior, and national guard ministers extend Eid greetings, praise efforts of military and security personnel    Syria forms new government with 22 ministers including one woman President Sharaa vows reform and transparency    Israeli army fires warning shots at UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon    Denmark rebukes US Vice President Vance over Greenland remarks    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Makkah and Madinah mobile data usage exceeds global average during Ramadan: CST    Elon Musk's xAI acquires X in all-stock deal    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    NewJeans announces hiatus after setback in court battle    George Foreman, heavyweight champion and cultural icon, dies at 76    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Positive steps needed to restore Mideast calm: UN envoy
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 22 - 12 - 2021

The deteriorating security situation in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, took center stage at the Security Council on Tuesday as the UN Special Coordinator for the peace process in the region, expressed his "continued concern" over recent developments.
Tor Wennesland painted a grim picture of "clashes, attacks, military operations" and continued settler-related violence amidst a severe fiscal and economic crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).
"It is crucial that all parties take immediate steps to lower tensions and restore calm", he said, warning that if left unchecked, the situation in the West Bank would further deteriorate – impacting security in Gaza and undermining the fragile peace that has held since May.
Devoting his briefing to the implementation of Resolution 2334 (2016), which calls for the cessation of all settlement activities in the OPT, the Special Coordinator said that "violent incidents have unfortunately continued".
While updating ambassadors on a host of incidents, he said that14 Palestinians had been killed, along with three Israelis, since 29 September.
He mentioned that the most recent confrontation had occurred on Sunday, when hundreds of settlers attempted to enter the Homesh outpost to set up illegal structures, breaking through Israel Security Forces' (ISF) barricades and using violence against Israeli soldiers, "including hitting one soldier with a vehicle".
Meanwhile, there have been some positive developments, such as a virtual meeting between United States and Palestinian officials last Tuesday to renew the US-Palestinian Economic Dialogue – the first such meeting in five years.
Reminding that Israeli settlements constitute "a flagrant violation" of UN resolutions and international law, Mr. Wennesland drew attention to the advancement of building plans in areas "crucial for the contiguity of a future Palestinian State", including Atarot and Givat Hamatos.
"I call on the Government of Israel to cease the advancement of all settlement activities immediately", he said.
The Special Coordinator also raised the alarm over pending evictions of Palestinian families from homes that they have lived in for decades in the Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem, calling on Israeli authorities to "end the displacement and eviction of Palestinians", and enable them to "build legally and address their development needs".
He also welcomed plans for several thousand Palestinians housing units in the occupied East Jerusalem neighborhood of al-Issawiya and in Area C, urging Israel to continue advancing these types of projects and issuing building permits for previously approved Palestinian plans in Area C and East Jerusalem.
"The continuing violence, incitement to violence and attacks against civilians, including acts of terrorism and settler-related violence, exacerbate mistrust and undermine a peaceful resolution to the conflict", said Wennesland.
"There can be no justification for such acts; they must be condemned by all... and all perpetrators must be held accountable".
To maintain calm, strengthen Palestinian institutions and restore hope, the parties must make concerted efforts to reverse the deteriorating security and socio-economic situation across the OPT", the UN official said.
"Furthermore, steps by all parties are urgently needed to shore up the economic and institutional stability of the PA [Palestinian National Authority], including through the implementation of needed reforms", he added.
And more must be done to solidify the cessation of hostilities and meet the needs of the population in the Gaza Strip.
"For any durable stability, movement and access in and out of the Strip must be improved, with a view to a full lifting of the closures in line with UN Security Council resolution 1860 (2009)", Wennesland stated.
In closing, the UN official observed that the rising levels of violence in recent weeks "should be a clear warning to us all".
"If left unaddressed, the festering conflict drivers...will drag us into yet another destructive and bloody round of violence. We must act now to prevent that from happening", he said.
Wennesland urged all parties to take positive steps and implement reforms that increase the PA's ability to deliver for the Palestinian people while simultaneously halting actions that undermine its authority.
He said 2021 had been "a year of significant shifts in the political context affecting this conflict" that has posed "one of the most challenging set of circumstances to face the Palestinian Authority since its establishment" and maintained his determination to find opportunities next year to reverse the current "negative trajectory", while working towards constructive engagement.
"The UN remains committed to supporting Palestinians and Israelis to resolve the conflict and end the occupation through the achievement of a two-State solution, in line with relevant United Nations resolutions, international law and bilateral agreements", he concluded.


Clic here to read the story from its source.