The Israeli government has expressed its dismay with a statement released on Feb. 3 by the U.N. high commissioner on human rights that sought to quell what he termed the “illogic of escalation” in “Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territory.”
“Rather than doubling down on failed approaches of violence and coercion that have singularly failed in the past, I urge everyone involved to step out of the illogic of escalation that has only ended in dead bodies, shattered lives and utter despair,” said Volker Türk, the U.N. human rights commissioner, in a statement. “I fear that recent measures being taken by the Government of Israel are only fueling further violations and abuses of human-rights law and violations of international humanitarian law.”
His comments came a week after a Palestinian terrorist killed seven Israelis in Jerusalem on Shabbat evening, and six days after a 13-year-old Arab shot a Jewish father and son walking in Jerusalem.
“The press release [containing Türk’s remarks] does not even have the decency to describe the attacks last week for what they were, acts of Palestinian terrorism targeting the Jewish people,” said Meirav Eilon Shahar, Israel’s permanent representative to the U.N. and international organizations in Geneva. “It does not even have the courage to condemn the death of innocent worshipers.”
Shahar added, “Its prejudice towards Israel means it chooses to turn a blind eye to the daily incitement of children by the Palestinian Authority and their support for terrorism. This must end now.”