NEW YORK, March 25, 2014 (WAFA) – Ambassador Feda Abdelhady-Nasser, Chargé d'Affaires of the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, sent Sunday a letter to the UN Secretary-General, President of the Security Council and President of the General Assembly, on recent Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people and continued illegal settlement activities.

 “Although serious efforts are being exerted internationally, regionally and by the Palestinian leadership to advance the [peace] process, Israel, the occupying Power, persists in bad faith, in both word and deed, aggravating the volatile situation on the ground and threatening the viability of the process,” said the letter.

The letter warned of the consequences of the illegal Israeli actions, as it states that they are “deliberately intended to provoke the Palestinian people, undermine the Palestinian leadership and destabilize the situation, with potentially far-reaching negative consequences.”

 “Public confidence in and support for the negotiations, as well as the credibility of the process itself, are being dramatically eroded by incessant Israeli violations against the Palestinian people.”

Commenting on the recent extrajudicial killings in Jenin refugee camp and injuring Palestinian civilians in Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem and in Silwad, to the north of Ramallah, the letter stated that: “the willful killing of civilians by the occupying Power amounts to war crimes under international humanitarian law, particularly article 147 of the Fourth Geneva Convention regarding grave breaches.”

“We recall here the obligations of the occupying Power, in accordance with the Fourth Geneva Convention to “ensure the protection of civilian population under its occupation.”

The letter went on to highlight the unabated Israeli settlement campaign, including the recent announcements of settlement construction in multiple areas. “Israel has continued unabated with its illegal and destructive settlement campaign throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.”

“We once again draw the international community’s attention to the dangers of this situation and call for the exertion of all efforts to salvage the prospects for peace, including by the Security Council according to its Charter duty for the maintenance of international peace and security,”

“Israel must be compelled to abide by its obligations under international law, without exception, and by its commitments in the peace process, the terms of reference of which have been repeatedly reaffirmed and endorsed by the international community.”

K.F./M.N.