NEW YORK, February 27, 2007 (WAFA) - Dr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the United Nations, said Tuesday in a letter to the President of the Security Council Mr. Peter Burian that Israeli Occupying Forces(IOF) are conducting a wide-scale barbaric military aggression against the already besieged city of Nablus in the northern West Bank.

"Israel, the occupying Power is killing one civilian and injuring scores others in addition to arresting tens of Palestinians, demolishing homes and converting others to military outposts while keeping the families living there hostage, forbidden to move or contact the outside world."

Mansour said that Nablus residents had woken up on 25 February to the wide-scale incursion, which began with Israeli occupying forces invading Palestinian airwaves and reading out the names of what they called were "wanted" Palestinians. Soon after, the entire city was placed under a curfew, confining tens of thousands of residents to their homes. The Israeli occupying forces also obstructed the movement of medical crews.

"Israeli occupying forces even converted Jamal Abdel Nasser School in the old city to a detention center. Among the detained is journalist Nayef Breik, who owns the local Sanabel TV station. Israeli occupying forces broke into the station, arresting Mr. Breik and confiscating transmission and other equipment."

He said that Israeli occupying forces shot dead 42 year-old Anan Al-Tibi while he was inside his home and injured his son Ashraf, 22 year-old. The heinous and brutal killing is but an example of the conduct of Israeli occupying forces against Palestinian civilians and the utter disregard they have for the worth of Palestinian life.

The Security Council, has adopted 16 resolutions regarding the city of Jerusalem, and repeatedly declared that all measures and arrangements taken by Israel, the occupying Power, including the legislative and administrative ones, which aim at changing the legal status, demographic composition and character of the city, are null and avoid and without any legal validity whatsoever. Furthermore, the Security Council has also repeatedly reaffirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to all the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, including East Jerusalem. Hence, the Council must now assume its responsibility in ensuring Israel's adherence to these resolutions and its obligations as an occupying Power, according to the letter.

"Israel, the occupying Power, also continues to shun international law and relevant United Nations resolutions with regard to its continued construction of the illegal separation wall in the West Bank. Today, 26 February 2007, Israeli occupying forces demolished ten homes near Tulkarem to make way for the illegal wall. These actions are utterly rejected and are in contravention of international law, international humanitarian law and human rights law. Additionally, they are in grave violation of the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion of 9 July 2004 and General Assembly resolution ES-10/15."

Mansour added that the Government of Israel also continues its campaign to create a new demographic composition in Occupied East Jerusalem and to alter its cultural and religious heritage through the ongoing demolition and diggings at Bab Al- Magharibeh. These provocative actions, which latest reports indicate are continuing unabated under the cover of night, clearly demonstrate the intransigence of the Israeli Government and its persistence in defying the will of the international community and violating international law and United Nations resolutions.

He called on all parties to urgently take immediate measures in ensuring that Israel, the occupying Power, ends its destructive campaign and fulfills its responsibilities in accordance with international law. Additionally, we call on the international community, particularly, the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, to assume their responsibilities in ensuring that Israel respect the de jure applicability of this Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and adhere to its provisions. In this context, it is imperative for the Security Council to take urgent measures to confront these Israeli actions to ensure respect for international law and to prevent further escalation of the situation in the region.

M.H.(11:30 P)(09:30 GMT)