Bota

UN: Violence between Israel and Palestine at critical point

UN: Violence between Israel and Palestine at critical point

The UN envoy in Jerusalem has warned that the growing violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories has brought the situation to a critical point.

In an interview with the BBC , Tor Wennesland called for "firm" diplomatic intervention to stem the bloodshed.

He also warned of further deterioration due to declining international support for the Palestinian Authority (PA).

"The UN cannot take on this responsibility, we cannot govern Palestine," he said.

In the past month, more than 35 Palestinians and seven Israelis have been killed, after a year of spiraling violence that included almost nightly Israeli military raids and arrests and a series of Palestinian attacks.

Many observers fear an eventual decline in the prospects for a so-called two-state solution - the long-standing international formula for peace.

 

Latest news