Security Council urges probe of Palestinian minister’s death

UNITED NATIONS/GENEVA — The UN Security Council has called for a speedy and transparent investigation after a senior Palestinian official died during a confrontation with Israeli soldiers.

The Palestinian leadership has blamed Israel for "killing" 55-year-old Ziad Abu Ein last Wednesday, which came during an anti-settlements protest march by roughly 300 Palestinians who intended to plant olive trees as a symbolic act.

Israeli authorities say an investigation has been launched and called for calm, amid speculation the Palestinian Authority would suspend security coordination with Israel in the West Bank.

A Security Council statement issued late Friday "encouraged the parties to ensure that a swift and transparent investigation is undertaken. Council members took note of the willingness of the government of Israel to conduct a joint investigation into the incident.

"The members of the Security Council called on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and to refrain from steps that could further destabilise the situation."

Meanwhile, the UN's human rights chief said on Friday that the circumstances of Abu Ein's death were "disturbing" and called for a timely and impartial investigation.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights HH Prince Zeid Ra'ad welcomed an investigation launched by the Israeli military into the minister's death.

He said the probe needed to be "quick and utterly transparent if people are to have faith in its findings".

"Peaceful protest is a human right and security forces must exercise appropriate restraint when policing protests in accordance with international standards," he added.

"Because of the well-established illegal nature of the Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, such protests will inevitably continue."

The Palestinian leadership blamed Israel for "killing" the 55-year-old.

The UN rights chief also urged a "proper" investigation into the shooting on Wednesday by Israeli troops of a 14-year-old Palestinian boy during a clash at the Jelazoun refugee camp in the West Bank.

He drew attention to a sharp rise in reports of excessive use of force by Israeli forces in the occupied territories, noting at least 50 Palestinian fatalities in the West Bank in such circumstances so far this year — almost double the 27 that occurred in 2013.

"This continuous stream of fatal incidents underscores the need for effective accountability measures," Zeid said.