West Bank tension fuels fear, hatred, UN official says

RAMALLAH — An escalation of tension in the West Bank would fuel an atmosphere of fear, hatred and anger between Israelis and Palestinians, a senior United Nations official warned on Saturday.

"It is necessary to reduce tension immediately to open the way for decisive initiatives aimed at creating a viable political horizon between the two sides," said UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland in a press statement.

On Friday and Saturday, four Palestinians were killed and dozens were injured by Israeli soldiers in several West Bank towns and villages, the Palestinian Health Ministry said.

Since early January, more than 100 Palestinians had been killed by Israeli soldiers, the ministry said. From March, 18 Israelis have been killed in attacks carried out by Palestinians in Israeli cities.

Wennesland expressed his concern over the deterioration of the security situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, calling on Israelis and Palestinians to restore calm and avoid further escalation.

"The fragility of the situation underscores the urgency of changing the dynamics on the ground, while addressing the underlying security and political issues that fuel the current instability," he said.

On Friday, a senior Palestinian official called on the United States to intervene immediately and stop the Israeli army from killing Palestinians in the West Bank.

Palestinian presidency spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh urged the US to immediately intervene "and stop these daily crimes in the West Bank, which would have dangerous consequences that no one can bear, and then it will be too late".

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Ishtaye last week called on Britain to recognize the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital and take serious measures against settlements.

Tension in the West Bank has been mounting since March after the Israeli army intensified its military actions and operations against Palestinian militants and activists.

In the June 1967 Middle East war, Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, which are claimed by the Palestinians, and has controlled the areas ever since. The Palestinians aspire to establish a Palestinian state in these territories.

Xinhua