UN chief proposals to protect Palestinians rejected by Israel

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres yesterday presented four options aimed at boosting the protection of Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territories, from sending UN rights monitors and unarmed observers to deploying a military or police force under UN mandate.

But the report has been rejected by the Israelis. Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement that “the only protection the Palestinian people need is from their own leadership.” “Instead of suggesting ways to protect the Palestinian people from Israel, the UN should instead hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for continually endangering its own people,” Danon said.

“The report’s suggestions will only enable the Palestinians’ continued rejectionism.” The proposals were contained in a report requested by the General Assembly in response to a surge of violence in Gaza, where 171 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since late March.