THE Palestinian Mission to the UK yesterday urged the UK government to protect the Palestinian people following the killing of Palestinian leader Abu Ein.
In a statement, the mission said: ‘The Palestinian Mission to the UK deplores the extrajudicial killing of Minister Ziad Abu Ein by the Israeli Occupation Forces.
‘Minister Abu Ein was in charge of the Settlements and Annexation Wall portfolio and a prominent member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council.
‘Abu Ein was killed after being severely beaten and suffering from tear gas inhalation while marking International Human Rights day by planting olive trees in Palestinian land to be confiscated by Israel to build illegal settlements.
‘The attack took place in the village of Turmusaya north-east of Ramallah and surrounded by the illegal settlements of Shilo, ELI and Ma’ala Levona.
‘Israel yet again acts as a state above the law flagrantly violating Palestinian human rights and international law.
‘We urge the UK government to uphold its responsibility, as a high contracting party to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to protect the Palestinian people and hold Israel accountable for its continuous illegal crimes and occupation.’
Ambassador Hassassian said: ‘The recent attack on Minister Abu Ein goes to show how the absence of accountability gives Israel the green light to continue its use of excessive force and indiscriminate violence against Palestinians even when they are engaging in non-violent resistance.’
He added: ‘The UK government should immediately intervene to protect the Palestinian people and stop Israel’s state terrorism against unarmed peaceful civilians.’
