The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Fund us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Cannes
      • Sundance London
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • Tumblr

  • RSS


Current affairsNews

European and UN diplomats clash with Israel over aid to the West Bank

European and UN diplomats clash with Israel over aid to the West Bank
21 September 2013
Simon Wyatt
Avatar
Simon Wyatt
21 September 2013

A number of European and UN diplomats have expressed anger after Israeli soldiers prevented them from delivering aid to Palestinians in the West Bank.

French Diplomat Marion Fesnau-Castaing (pictured) was dragged by Israeli security forces when she and other diplomats attempted to provide aid to Palestinians. Photo: Reuters

The diplomats were delivering tents and emergency aid to villagers from Khirbet al-Makhul whose homes were demolished earlier this week after the Israeli High Court ruled they had been built without correct permits.

The diplomats have described how they were confronted by a number of Israeli army jeeps as they arrived in the area and were then told by Israeli soldiers to unload their truck.

Speaking to Reuters news agency, Marion Fesneau-Castaing said: “They dragged me out of the truck and forced me to the ground with no regard for my diplomatic immunity.”

The French diplomat continued: “This is how international law is being respected here.”

Another European diplomat described the incident as “shocking and outrageous” and said the actions will be reported to the diplomats’ respective governments.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have justified the actions of the security services, stating they were enforcing the High Court order by preventing tents being erected on the site, something they described as “provocation”.

The IDF said stones were thrown at the security personnel and stun grenades were fired to disperse the crowd.

A spokeswoman for the Israeli army added: “Reports that foreign diplomats abused their diplomatic privileges are currently being reviewed, and if required, complaints will be filed with the relevant authorities.”

Reporters from Reuters who were at the scene have said, however, that no stones were thrown.

The British Consulate General in Jerusalem has expressed concern over Israeli military forces preventing humanitarian assistance reaching this community.

A spokesman for the Consulate added: “We have repeatedly made clear to the Israeli authorities our concerns over such demolitions, which we view as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; as harmful to the peace process; and as contrary to international humanitarian law.”

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Khirbet al-Makhul was the third settlement to be demolished by the Israelis in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Israel has been accused by Palestinians of trying to seize their historical grazing lands by either earmarking them for military use or creating Israeli settlements.

Direct peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians took place last month after a three-year hiatus caused by disagreements over Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Simon Wyatt

Related Items

More in Current Affairs

Why even small retailers have to do financial audits

The editorial unit
Read More

Present and future of online gaming

The editorial unit
Read More

Donald Trump: An enemy of the arts?

The editorial unit
Read More

Trump’s fortune: Where did the money come from?

The editorial unit
Read More

Snapchat Spectacles come to the UK

The editorial unit
Read More

Macron’s win: What are the financial implications for the UK?

The editorial unit
Read More

Wi-Fi in the sky

The editorial unit
Read More

Is Prince Philip’s retirement a sign of a new monarchy era?

The editorial unit
Read More

Is it too soon to find humour in the housing crisis?

The editorial unit
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Tickets

Theatre tickets

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Project Gastronomía: How will Londoners eat in 2050? A symposium on gastronomy and multisensory design
    Food & Drinks
  • Clare Smyth crowned the World’s Best Female Chef 2018
    Food & Drinks
  • Bat Out of Hell at the Dominion Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Tribeca Film Festival 2018: On the red carpet with the stars of Westworld season 2
    Cinema
  • Tokio Myers at the Forum
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • The Wound (Inxeba)
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Clare Smyth crowned the World’s Best Female Chef 2018
    Food & Drinks
  • Strictly Ballroom at Piccadilly Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Writer at the Almeida Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Avengers: Infinity War
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • The Wound (Inxeba)
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Strictly Ballroom at Piccadilly Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • The Writer at the Almeida Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Avengers: Infinity War
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Sherlock Gnomes premiere: A chat with James McAvoy, his co-stars and the film’s creators
    Cinema

Instagram

Something is wrong. Response takes too long or there is JS error. Press Ctrl+Shift+J or Cmd+Shift+J on a Mac.
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Fund us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • New London restaurant openings and pop-ups
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • Subscribe
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2018 FL Media Ltd

424 children a year abused online and blackmailed
59 confirmed dead in terror attack on Kenyan shopping centre