Russian diplomat at UN: West Bank is on the verge of explosion, Israel must stop building settlements

(Patria) - Israel should stop building settlements on occupied Palestinian land, as the situation in the West Bank is on the verge of a large-scale explosion, said Russia's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya, TASS reported.

"We call on the Israeli authorities to comply with international humanitarian law and assume full responsibility for the population under occupation. First and foremost, we are talking about obligations to provide food supplies, medical care, public order and security," he said during a UN Security Council meeting on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

"It is also necessary to stop the construction of settlements on the occupied Palestinian territory, which is a gross violation of international law. Due to such steps by the Israeli authorities, which have noticeably intensified recently, the situation in the West Bank is on the verge of a major explosion," he said.

The Russian ambassador emphasized that Israel has the right to ensure its security, "however, the path to this goal undoubtedly leads exclusively through a comprehensive resolution in the Middle East and, above all, through correcting the historical injustice towards Palestine and establishing an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the decisions of the UN Security Council and the General Assembly."

"All other dubious schemes designed to reconcile Israel with its neighbors without a just solution to the Palestinian issue will not succeed in achieving this goal, but can only trigger outbreaks of violence similar to what the region is currently going through," he concluded.