United Nations security council holds meeting to discuss recent escalation the West Bank

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United Nations

United Nations, United States, May 11, 2021: After an initial draft proposed through a joint effort between Tunisia and Norway, the 15 countries in the UN Security Council decided to meet to negotiate the text of a proposal in response to the recent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians.

The urgent meeting of the security council resulted in no immediate statement however, with the US, a key Israeli ally, believing that public comments would be counter productive in trying to de-escalate the situation.

Over 300 people were injured as a result of rubber bullets and grenades fired by Israeli security forces when they attacked Palestinians worshipers praying in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound, a site sacred for both Muslims and Jews. The violence and bloodshed have prompted action from the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell, who issued a strident statement calling for a ceasefire and US national security advisor Jake Sullivan, who talked to his Israeli counterpart on the phone and voiced his concerns over potential evictions of Palestinians from the holy city that have fueled tensions. International organizations and governments have issued a plea to end violence.

According to one diplomatic source, the US is working behind the scenes to de-escalate the situation but believes a public statement at this point would no help. After discussing a possible joint text that would call for de-escalation, the nations in the security council have decided there would be no official statement from the body. A spokesperson for the US mission to the UN said, “The United States is engaging constructively to ensure any action by the Security Council is helpful in de-escalating tensions.”

As a result of the meeting however, a pro-Israel march that threatened to become a flashpoint, was called off. The draft statement text stated the Security Council’s intention to call on Israel to cease settlement activities, demolitions, and evictions in East Jerusalem.

The meeting was called by Tunisia, a non-permanent fellow member of the council. Though the draft stopped short of proposing a resolution, it calls for exercise of restraint in the face of provocative actions and rhetoric and also highlights the importance of maintaining the status quo in the scared sites.

The text of the draft further read that the Security Council members would express grave concern regarding the recent escalation in violence and tensions in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem which was annexed by Israel and its considered by it as a part of its capital.

Though the US is Israel’s top ally, but President Joe Biden has looked also to support Palestinian rights, in contrast to the starkly pro-Israel administration of Donald Trump.

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