The risk of an escalation again worries the occupied West Bank. France on Monday deemed “unacceptable” the violence against Palestinian civilians in this territory, after reprisals by Israeli settlers targeting the town of Huwara where two Israelis had been killed.
“France strongly condemns the attack which claimed the lives of two Israelis on February 26. Violence against Palestinian civilians is unacceptable,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement. Paris “is following with the greatest concern the violence in progress in the West Bank, in particular in Huwara, which threatens to degenerate out of control”, insists the Quai d’Orsay.
“France calls on all parties to avoid fueling this violence and contribute to de-escalation” and “calls on the Israeli government, as part of its responsibility as the occupying power, to protect Palestinian civilians and prosecute the perpetrators violence”.
New episode of violence, an American killed
An American, also with Israeli nationality, was also killed on Monday in the violence in the occupied West Bank, announced the State Department. “We condemn the atrocious murders of two Israeli brothers near Nablus and the murder today of an Israeli near Jericho, who – as far as we know – was also an American citizen,” said at a conference statement from State Department spokesman Ned Price.
“We also condemn the large-scale, indiscriminate violence by settlers against Palestinian civilians following the killings,” he added.
The Palestinian town of Huwara, in the occupied West Bank, was the scene of an attack on Sunday evening by dozens of Israeli settlers after the death of two of them caused by Palestinian fire. The Israeli government called the tragedy a “Palestinian terrorist attack”.
Settlers threw stones at Palestinian homes, set fire to buildings, garbage cans and cars. The Israeli authorities called on the settlers to calm down after this new episode of violence. The conflict is escalating sharply and officials on both sides pledged at a Sunday meeting in Jordan to “prevent any further violence”.