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‘Gravely Concerned’: UN Official Criticizes Israel Police Response To Riots Following Terror Attacks In The West Bank

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UPDATE: This story has been updated to include new information regarding an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting set for Tuesday in response to the West Bank attacks.
The United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland criticized Israeli law enforcement Monday for not preventing Sunday’s riots after a Palestinian terrorist killed two Israeli brothers, according to a press release.

Riots broke out in the West Bank in Gaza Sunday night, resulting in the death of one Palestinian and injuries to dozens of others, after two brothers were shot and killed earlier that day, according to the Times of Israel. Wennesland released a statement Monday condemning the violence while criticizing Israeli police for not preventing the riots, saying he was “gravely concerned” about the situation. (RELATED: The Israelis And Palestinians Are Holding Secret Back-Channel Talks: REPORT)

“Security forces have the responsibility to maintain security & prevent individuals from taking the law into their own hands,” Wennesland wrote on Twitter.

Israeli brothers Hallel Yaniv, 21, and Yagel Yaniv, 19, were shot in their car and later died in a hospital, according to the Times of Israel, and the IDF are currently conducting a manhunt for the terrorist. Sunday evening, riots broke out in the West Bank with multiple homes set ablaze and one Palestinian shot, while multiple others suffered various injuries, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

Wennesland offered sympathies to the families of both the Israeli brothers and the Palestinian killed during the riots and stated that there can be “no justification for terrorism, nor arson and acts of revenge against civilians,” according to the statement.

Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu urged rioters Sunday evening to leave the manhunt to the IDF and the Israeli security forces, according to the Times of Israel.

Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir echoed Netanyahu condemning the terrorist attack Monday, saying that Israel must respond by “crushing them one by one” and similarly condemned the riots that followed, according to Israeli media outlet Haaretz.

“I understand the hard feelings, but this is not the way, we don’t take the law into our hands,” Ben-Gvir said.

Tensions have continued to rise after weeks of terrorist attacks against Israelis and Israel’s push to continue settling the West Bank and demolishing the homes of terrorists, a move the U.S. has repeatedly spoken out against. Netanyahu confirmed on Monday that the settlements would continue, despite the U.S. embassy announcing that the settlements would be placed on pause for several months.

“Contrary to the tweets, construction, and regulation in Judea and Samaria will continue according to the original planning and construction schedule, without any changes,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter. “There is and will not be any freeze.”

The U.N. Security Council is looking to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the riots after the UAE, on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, submitted a formal plea, according to Times of Israel U.S. correspondent Jacob Magdid.

“The UN Security Council will convene an emergency session on Tuesday following yesterday’s attacks in Huwara, a senior diplomat on the panel tells @TimesofIsrael,” Magid wrote on Twitter. “This will be the third such session convened since the establishment of Netanyahu’s hardline government 2 months ago.”

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