UN envoy condemns “shocking murder” of abducted Israeli soldier

The top United Nations official for the Middle East peace process today condemned the abduction and killing of an off-duty Israeli soldier, and emphasized the need for calm on the ground during this “critical moment” in the political efforts.

The soldier was abducted in central Israel and killed in the West Bank by a Palestinian who reportedly confessed to the crime.

In a statement, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Robert Serry, said the “shocking murder follows a series of violent incidents in the West Bank.”

He added that calm “is all the more important at this critical moment in the political process” and reiterated his call on all to refrain from violence and avoid loss of life.

Briefing the Security Council last week on the latest developments in the Middle East, Mr. Serry said that efforts for renewed peace prospects in the Middle East should not be neglected amid the turmoil elsewhere in the neighbourhood, and urged both Israelis and Palestinians to act responsibly and avoid actions that risk undermining the prospects for resumed negotiations.