"Steps must be taken to reverse negative trajectory of Palestinian-Israeli conflict" - Briefing

UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov said tangible steps “can, and must, be taken to reverse the negative trajectory of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict urgently” in order to counter the “rising spectre of violence and the threat of regional escalation.”
Addressing the Security Council via teleconference from Jerusalem, Mladenov said lack of a political horizon towards resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the basis of the two-state solution, unilateral moves on the ground, including settlement construction and expansion, terror attacks and a multitude of other factors create an explosive mix that can only be resolved by leadership that is willing and capable of returning to the table for meaningful negotiations towards a sustainable and just peace.
He said, in the past month, there has been an increase of violent incidents, including settler-related violence, in the West Bank and continuing tensions in and around Gaza. Overall in the past month in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, two Palestinians and two Israelis were killed and at least 102 Palestinians and seven Israelis injured.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, United Nations:
“I unequivocally condemn all attacks on Palestinian and Israeli civilians. Such attacks are cowardly and dangerous acts. They serve only those who want escalation. Violence and terrorism must be condemned by all. Their glorification by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian factions is deplorable.”
Mladenov said settlement expansion, demolitions, and seizures of Palestinian property by Israel have continued. He noted that Israel’s policy of destroying Palestinian property is not compatible with its obligations under international humanitarian law adding that “The expansion of settlements has no legal effect and constitutes a flagrant violation of international law.” He said, “By advancing the effective annexation of the West Bank, it undermines the chances for establishing a Palestinian state based on relevant UN resolutions, as part of a negotiated two-state solution.”
Despite the relative calm on the past two months, Mladenov said the situation in Gaza remains very fragile as violent incidents continued. He said Palestinian militants breached or attempted to breach the perimeter fence, triggering retaliatory fire or airstrikes by the Israel, killing nine militants. He added that weekly protests at the fence continued. He said Israel responded with riot dispersal means and live fire which led to the death of one Palestinian and the injury of 545 others, including 150 children.
SOUNDBITE (English) Nickolay Mladenov, Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, United Nations:
“Israel must calibrate its use of force and use lethal force only as a last resort, and only in response to imminent threats of death or serious injury. Hamas must prevent the indiscriminate launching of rockets and mortars towards Israel. It must ensure that protests at the fence remain peaceful and prevent provocations.”
Turning briefly to Lebanon, Mladenov sited media reports that two drones had crashed in the southern suburb or Beirut and, a military base of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine — General Command (PFLP-GC) in the Bekaa Valley along the Lebanese-Syrian border was targeted in an air raid. He took noted of President Michel Aoun’s statement that the drone incident represents an assault on Lebanon’s sovereignty and a violation of resolution 1701.
The Special Coordinator said, “The UN reiterates its appeal to all concerned to cease violations of resolution 1701 (2006) and to fully implement its provisions, The United Nations calls on the parties to exercise maximum restraint both in action and rhetoric.”