5873rd Meeting (AM)
Israelis and Palestinians were now engaged in the most intensive negotiations on the final status of their disputed area since the breakdown of the Israeli-Palestinian political process nearly eight years ago, Angela Kane, Assistant-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, told the Security Council this morning.
‘The significance of this should not be underestimated, but neither should the grave risks to the process be overlooked,’ Ms. Kane said as she briefed Council members on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question, during the past month.
During the reporting period, efforts continued to advance the political process through direct bilateral negotiations, she said. There had been major episodes of violence, especially in and around Gaza, and continued ‘creation of facts on the ground’ in the West Bank. Gaza had experienced heightened humanitarian distress, while conditions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, had not significantly improved.
In addition, 79 Palestinians, including 15 children, had been killed in Israel Defense Forces operations and 95 had been injured, she said. Six Israelis had been killed by Palestinian militants and 27 had been injured. At least 70 rockets and mortars had been fired at Israel or at crossing points. Hamas and other militant organizations had also staged a number of attacks against crossing points between Gaza and Israel — the only outlets for international humanitarian assistance. Israeli air and ground operations against militants in Gaza had intensified following the 9 April terrorist attack on the Nahal Oz fuel depot.
She said that the Secretary-General continued to condemn rocket and other attacks by militants against civilians and the crossings. Such attacks not only threatened Israeli civilians, but also caused unacceptable suffering to the civilian population of Gaza and threatened to lead to a wider escalation. The Secretary-General also condemned civilian casualties in operations of the Israel Defense Forces against militants. She reiterated the Secretary-General’s repeated calls for a cessation of all acts of violence and for all parties to comply with international humanitarian and human rights law. She also encouraged Egypt to continue its efforts to achieve calm in Gaza and to ensure security along the border.

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