UN envoy says Israel must prevent settler attacks on Palestinians

Tor Wennesland, the United Nations Special Coordinator for the peace process, expresses his disappointment with the IDF for failing to prevent the vigilante mob attack on a Palestinian town last night, saying that “security forces have the responsibility to maintain security and prevent individuals from taking the law into their own hands.”

In a written statement, Wennesland says that he is “gravely concerned by the deteriorating security situation.” He expresses his condolences to the family of Hallel and Yagel Yaniv, the Israeli brothers murdered yesterday in Huwara, and the family of the Palestinian slain by Israelis during the subsequent rampage in the same town.

“There can be no justification for terrorism, nor for arson and acts of revenge against civilians,” he continues. “All perpetrators of violence must be held accountable.”