Abbas asks UN for international protection

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked on Sunday the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for speeding up international protection for Palestinians, in light of the increasing confrontation with Israel, Palestinian official News Agency WAFA reported.

WAFA said that Abbas urged Ban in a phone conversation to act before "things go out of control."

WAFA added that both parties discussed "the latest events and dangerous escalation in the Palestinian territories, particularly the settlements' provocations at al-Aqsa mosque, their blocking of roads and raids of Palestinian villages, all of which are being carried out under the protection of the Israeli army."

Ban said he is to call the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver the message of stopping settlers' escalation.

The Palestinians on Sunday held the Israeli government responsible for the current violence that has been flaring in east Jerusalem and in the West Bank after the death of four Israelis and two Palestinians in the past 72 hours.

Clashes between the Israeli army and the Palestinians has erupted in several West Bank cities, mainly in Ramallah and Nablus. Palestinians sources reported that nine Palestinians were wounded due to live bullets shooting and others suffered suffocation.

The field confrontations started three weeks ago in Jerusalem as Israelis raided al-Aqsa mosque during the Jewish holidays. Palestinians protested allowing Jewish groups to enter al-Aqsa compound and praying there, contrary to the status quo. Endit