Off the wire
• 2nd LD-Writethru: CPC confirms medium-high economic growth target  • China vows more opening up  • Nokia sales, profitability improve in 2015  • 2nd LD Writethru: Britain likely to publish Iraq Inquiry in June or July next year  • China to better protect environment  • Albania's trade deficit falls 9.9 pct in September  • Roundup: Singapore stocks end down 1.28 pct  • Refugees entering Slovenia surpasses 100,000 in 12 days  • China committed to Africa's economic growth through infrastructure development: envoy  • IMF urges economic policies to boost growth in Sub-Saharan Africa  
You are here: 　 Home

PNA accuses Israel of committing "organized terrorism" toward Palestinians

Xinhua, October 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Palestinian National Authority's (PNA) on Thursday accused the Israeli government of committing "organized terrorism" against Palestinians.

"Right-wing party leaders and extreme right-wing figures in Israel's government compete on coming up with new methods of oppression and harassment of Palestinians," the PNA Foreign Ministry said in an emailed statement.

The statement came amid reports of a second Palestinian being shot and killed by the Israeli military on Thursday after allegedly trying to stab soldiers.

In an earlier stabbing incident Thursday morning, one Israeli soldier was slightly wounded; no Israeli serviceman was hurt in the second knifing attempt.

The PNA statement condemned some of the measures taken by the Israeli government.

"The latest of these was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal of establishing a civil court to accelerate collective punishment and issue administrative detention orders, demolition of homes and residency withdrawals," said the statement.

"These new measures are in addition to daily executions of Palestinians without trials, then withholding their bodies thus depriving parents from burying their children," the statement added.

The PNA Foreign Ministry condemned the measures as "clear barbarian aggression conducted by Israeli occupation against Palestinians," criticizing the international community for what it described as the silence toward ending these crimes.

The latest wave of violence started last month with tensions in East Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque compound, spreading throughout Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and resulting in the death of 11 Israelis, mainly from knife attacks, according to officials.

Since early October, 67 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, some following stabbing attacks, others in clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli securities forces.

Also on Thursday, PNA foreign minister Reyad el-Malki said that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, currently in Europe, has asked Switzerland to compel Israel to protect Palestinian civilians living under its occupation.

Abbas' demand was raised at a meeting in Geneva with Swiss Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter, el-Malki told "Voice of Palestine" Radio.

"Switzerland is the trustee of the Geneva Conventions," said el-Malki. "President Abbas urged Burkhalter to strive to protect Palestinians, as well as pressure Israel to respect and conform to the Geneva conventions." Endit