‘The events of the last few days clearly
show how quickly the current tense
situation could spiral out of control. I
urge both the Israelis and the
Palestinians to exercise restraint. It is
important to seize upon the initiative for a
ceasefire, which now appears to be
coming from the Palestinians. Israel, as
the strongest party, has a particular
responsibility to show restraint and to
ensure that no more lives are lost,’ said
Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.
There has been a dramatic escalation of the
conflict between the Israelis and the
Palestinians following the recent kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers. Israeli security forces have carried out extensive military actions in the West Bank. Some 10 Palestinians have been killed, several hundred Palestinians have been arrested and buildings have been blown up. The kidnapping and murder of a Palestinian teenager has heightened tensions further. Palestinian groups in Gaza have fired rockets at southern parts of Israel, and Israeli security forces have carried out multiple air strikes on targets in Gaza.
‘I condemn the acts of violence against civilians
in the strongest terms. The rockets from Gaza
and the Israeli air strikes must stop
immediately. It is also vital that those
responsible for the murders of one Palestinian
teenager and three Israeli teenagers are
arrested and brought to justice in a manner
worthy of a state governed by the rule of law,’
Mr Brende said.
‘As the occupying power in the West Bank,
Israel has a special responsibility under
international law. Neither statements of its
intent to step up its settlement policy in the
West Bank and East Jerusalem, which is in
violation of international law, nor major
offensives against Gaza are the way forward,’
Mr Brende said.
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