New York - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process stressed the need to address the underlying challenges in all fields, including political, security and economic ones, and to end unilateral, provocative and incitement measures that enable violence and prevent progress towards resolving the conflict and ending the occupation.
In his address to the UN Security Council, during which he reviewed the Secretary-General's latest report on the situation, UN Coordinator Tor Wiensland expressed grave concern about violence and provocative actions in recent weeks, particularly the violent confrontations inside Al-Aqsa Mosque.
He again urged respect for the status quo of the holy sites in Jerusalem in line with the special guardianship role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
According to what was reported by the UN news bulletin, a copy of which we received on Wednesday morning, the UN official condemned the indiscriminate firing of rockets at Israeli population centers. He reiterated that acts of terrorism and the targeting of civilians are disgraceful and must be condemned and rejected by all.
He stressed the need for all perpetrators of violence to be held accountable and brought to justice urgently, and that the security forces must exercise maximum restraint and use lethal force only in unavoidable cases in defense of life.
Tor Wiensland denounced the continued vulnerability of children to violence. "Children should never be the targets of violence, or be used or subjected to harm," he said.
Casualties
In the period covered by the Secretary-General's report, 17 Palestinians—including two children—were killed and 200 injured, including four women and 38 children, by Israeli security forces “during demonstrations, clashes, search and arrest operations, alleged attacks and assaults against Israelis, and other incidents.”
39 Palestinians, including 3 women and 4 children, were injured by Israeli settlers and other civilians in shooting and stone-throwing attacks, among other incidents.
Four Israeli civilians, including two women and a child, were killed and 31 injured, including two women and a child, and 12 members of the Israeli security forces, by Palestinians in shootings, collisions, clashes, rock and mortar throwing, and other incidents.

In addition, a foreigner was killed and 7 were injured.

Aqaba and Sharm El-Sheikh
In his briefing, Wensland referred to a meeting of high-ranking officials from Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and the United States of America in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on the 17th of last month, to discuss the understandings reached in Aqaba, Jordan, on the 23rd of February.
The UN official urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from taking any steps that might exacerbate the situation, and to take decisive steps to implement what was agreed upon in Aqaba and Sharm el-Sheikh.
He stressed that he is in close communication with the parties concerned to calm tensions and chart a political path to move forward.

settlement
On the 22nd of last month, the Israeli authorities announced bids to construct 940 housing units in settlements in Area C of the occupied West Bank, and 89 units in East Jerusalem.
The UN coordinator said that Israeli government ministers and members of the Knesset joined 15,000 settlers and other Israeli civilians in a march, under heavy security, to the illegal outpost of Eviatar in the northern West Bank, calling on the government to legalize it according to Israeli law.
Wensland stressed that all settlements are illegal under international law and represent a major obstacle to peace.
He called on all parties to avoid unilateral measures and provocations, such as that march, which may increase tensions.

Ending the occupation and the two-state solution
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process urged Israelis, Palestinians, countries in the region and the entire international community to show leadership, re-engage and work jointly in pursuit of peace.
He pointed out that the goal is to end the occupation and resolve the conflict in accordance with international law, relevant United Nations resolutions and previous agreements to achieve a two-state solution: Israel and an independent, democratic, geographically contiguous, sovereign and viable state of Palestine.
He added that the two states should be able to live side by side in peace and security within secure and recognized borders based on the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of the two states.