UN chief alarmed by deadly incidents in West Bank

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday said he is profoundly alarmed by the growing number of deadly incidents in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

"The last few days of clashes, which resulted in the death of four Palestinians, including a 13-year old boy, and hundreds injured, are yet another worrisome sign of violence potentially spiralling out of control," said a statement released by Ban's spokesperson.

There has been mounting surge of violence between Israeli security forces and Palestinian protesters over the holy site of Temple Mount as the latter charge that Jewish extremists are trying to change the status quo.

Rocks and firebombs are hurled on a daily basis around Jerusalem, with sporadic stabbing attacks, especially around Old City in Jerusalem.

Ban condemned the killings, and said he looks to the Government of Israel to conduct a prompt and transparent investigation into the incidents, including whether the use of force was proportional.

The UN chief "does not believe that the demolition of Palestinian houses or the construction of new Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land will do anything other than inflame tensions still further," said the statement.

"The escalation of violent incidents underscores the need for urgent action by both sides," Ban noted in the statement, while welcoming the commitment by Palestinian and Israeli officials to work together to curb the violence, including through continued security cooperation. Endit