Palestinian demonstrators run for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli security forces during clashes in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on October 2, 2015. (Musa al Shaer/AFP)
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Israel on Tuesday to conduct a full investigation of recent clashes in Jerusalem and the West Bank and criticized the demolition of Palestinian houses.
Ban said a “prompt and transparent” probe of the recent violence in which a 13-year-old was killed by Israeli soldiers would serve to determine “whether the use of force was proportional.”
More clashes erupted Tuesday, including in Bethlehem following the funeral of the teenage boy. Four Palestinians have died in recent days in clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinian rioters. The clashes came as four Israelis were killed and several injured in a string of Palestinian terror attacks. Among the Palestinian dead were two men killed after carrying out attacks against Israeli civilians.
Ban said that the latest clashes were “yet another worrisome sign of violence potentially spiraling out of control.”
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaks at a press conference at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris, on April 29, 2015 (AFP/Thomas Samson)
He added that demolishing Palestinian homes could “inflame tensions still further” after Israel destroyed two houses owned by Palestinians who allegedly attacked Israelis last year.
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The UN chief called for “urgent action by both sides” to curb the violence including through security cooperation.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said earlier that he wanted to avoid an escalation amid fears that the clashes could trigger a new uprising.
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