File Photo: Israeli soldiers take positon following clashes between Israeli settlers from the settlement of Yitzhar and Palestinians from the nearby Urif village, south of the West Bank City of Nablus, on Oct. 10, 2018. (Xinhua/Nidal Eshtayeh)
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Middle East peace coordinator on Thursday called on Israel to cease settlement activities on the occupied Palestinian territories.
"I once again called on Israel to cease demolitions (of Palestinian-owned structures) and other measures that run contrary to its obligations under international law," UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov told the Security Council.
A total of 39 structures were demolished or seized in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, displacing 33 people and affecting the livelihoods of over 100 others in the past month, Mladenov said, citing figures from the UN relief wing, or OCHA.
While the rate of demolitions has declined since the beginning of 2017, over 13,000 demolition orders are pending against Palestinian structures in Area C, he said, referring to an administrative area that constitutes about 60 percent of the West Bank territory.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government has reportedly approved the allocation of 6 million dollars for advancing the construction of 31 housing units in the Jewish settlement in Hebron, the first new construction there in 16 years, Mladenov added.
"I reiterated the long-standing United Nations position that all settlement activities are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace," he said.
Moreover, the UN envoy noted settler-related violence is a continuing concern, revealing the past month has seen 23 attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians, resulting in one death, 12 injuries and property damage.
"To date in 2018, according to OCHA, over 1,600 Palestinian-owned trees were vandalized across the West Bank."
As the annual olive harvest begins, Mladenov called on the authorities to ensure smooth access of Palestinian farmers to their land and sufficient measures be taken to protect farmers and their property from attack.