Palestinian official urges the international community to hold Israel accountable for its actions

The Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, Ambassador Riyad Mansour, called upon the international community to hold Israel accountable for its violations and crimes and to save the prospects for peace and justice. Mansour urged the world to take strong measures to ensure that Israel is held accountable for its serious violations of international law in the Palestinian Territories.

Mansour’s appeal was communicated in a letter to the UN Secretary-General, the Jordanian president of the Security Council and the president of the General Assembly. The letter particularly addressed the deteriorating situation in the region as a result of Israel’s illegal and provocative policies.

The letter stressed that: “At a time when serious efforts at the regional and international levels are trying to achieve peace in the region and to save the two-state solution, Israel has continued with its aggressive and colonial policies. Since the resumption of the negotiations, Israel has not stopped any of its oppressive and destructive actions that threaten to derail the peace talks.”

Mansour pointed out that Israel’s most recent crime was committed on Wednesday against the Gaza Strip, when Israeli forces launched a missile attack at a vehicle carrying Ahmed and Mahmoud Za’anin, two Palestinian youths, leading to their death .

In November 2012 the UN General Assembly voted overwhlemingly in favour of granting Palestine non-member observer state status at the UN.