U.N. Urges All of Those with Influence to Use it to Deescalate the Israel-Palestine Situation
The Latest: UN chief 'pessimistic' on Israel-Palestinians
October 21, 2015AP - The latest developments in a wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence (all times local).
Rycroft says Ban urged "all of those with influence need to use it to deescalate the situation."
9:20 p.m.
Israel's military says a Palestinian rammed his car into a group of Israelis in the West Bank, injuring four people.
It said that soldiers at the scene Wednesday night opened fire at the assailant.
It was the latest incident in about a month of violence. Palestinian assailants have killed 10 Israelis, mostly in knife attacks, while 47 Palestinians — including 26 identified by Israel as attackers — have been killed. The others died in clashes with Israeli security forces.
8:50 p.m.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says Israel and the Palestinians both to "need to make a contribution" in order to restore calm after weeks of unrest.
She also said Israel has an "obligation" to protect its own citizens and said the Palestinians must condemn "everything constituting the support of terror."
7:15 p.m.
The Israeli military says a rocket from the Gaza Strip has been fired at Israel.
Gaza's Hamas rulers have largely honored a cease-fire that ended a 50-day war in the summer of 2014. But jihadist groups continue to fire rockets at Israel.
6:15 p.m.
Britain's U.N. Ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters Wednesday that Ban's closed video briefing and a ministerial meeting of the council on the Middle East Thursday will be focused on what the council can do on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
5:00 p.m.
Czech President Milos Zeman has assured his Israeli counterpart that his country's support for Israel has not changed.
After a meeting in Prague on Wednesday with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Zeman said: "There's no change in the Czech foreign policy toward Israel."
Zeman, who has been siding with Israel in the conflict with the Palestinians added: I'd like to express my full personal support for the state of Israel."
Rivlin thanked him: "A clear stance of the Czech Republic, a moral stance, is a great support for us."
But Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek recently criticized Israel's settlement expansion.
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3:45 p.m.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging Palestinians and Israelis to end recent bloodshed.
Ban said he haqd been urging both sides to "tell their people correctly that there should be no killings."
He spoke alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Wednesday a day after he made a surprise visit to Jerusalem.
Shortly before he spoke, Israeli police said forces shot and killed a Palestinian who stabbed a female soldier in the neck. Police said the soldier, who was originally reported to have been lightly wounded, was in critical condition.
It was the latest attack in a month of violence by mostly young Palestinians against Israeli civilians and soldiers.
"I know that people are angry and frustrated, particularly the young people of the Palestinians — when life has always been under occupation there cannot have much hope," Ban said.
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3:05 p.m.
Israeli police say a Palestinian stabbed a female soldier near Jerusalem, injuring her before he was shot and killed by forces.
Spokeswoman Luba Samri said the soldier was lightly injured in the attack Wednesday afternoon. Another Palestinian involved in the attack was arrested, she said. Israeli media said the Palestinian stabbed the soldier in the neck.
During that time, 10 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian assailants, mostly in knife attacks, while 47 Palestinians — including 26 identified by Israel as attackers — have been killed. The remainder died in clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters.
Israel's prime minister is headed to Germany for a high-profile mission aimed at restoring calm after weeks of Israeli-Palestinian unrest.
Netanyahu will meet with Germany's chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Wednesday before holding talks with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday. Kerry then heads to the region for talks with the Palestinians and Jordan.
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