UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov on Monday said violence has continued in the West Bank, as seven Palestinians, including one child, were recently killed by Israeli Security Forces (ISF) and another 206 were injured in various incidents.
And 16 Israeli security personnel and seven civilians were injured by Palestinians, Mladenov said while briefing the Security Council at a meeting on the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
"On Feb. 5, a Palestinian teenager was killed by ISF after he reportedly threw a Molotov cocktail during clashes in Hebron," he said. "The following day, a Palestinian man was shot during clashes in Jenin, while in a separate incident, a Palestinian Authority policeman died after reportedly being hit by a live bullet while he was inside a police station."
Mladenov reiterated that violence against civilians, and particularly against children, is unacceptable, and must be condemned by all.
He added that Israeli security forces must exercise maximum restraint and only use lethal force when strictly necessary. "All incidents must be thoroughly investigated."
Meanwhile, the situation around the Holy Sites in Jerusalem remained tense, Mladenov said. "Amidst calls by religious and political leaders for Palestinians to pray en masse at the Muslim sites, there were limited clashes and arrests reported, including after Friday prayers."
"The Israeli police also issued orders temporarily restricting access to the site for several Palestinians, including a religious leader and former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, citing incitement and disturbance of the peace," said the envoy.
