As third victim of West Bank arson attack dies, UN envoy urges end to extremist violence ‘on all sides’
The United Nations special envoy on the Middle East today expressed deep sadness that Reham Dawabsha has succumb to the wounds she received in a terrorist attack in a West Bank village in late July that also killed her husband and infant son, calling the tragedy “a shocking example of the destructive nature of extremism.”
“I am deeply saddened by the death of Reham Dawabsha on the eve of her 27th birthday,” said the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, in a statement.
He said that despite the excellent medical care at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ms. Dawabsha sadly succumbed to her wounds. “Reham is the third victim of the 31 July terrorist attack in Douma village which killed her husband and infant son, and wounded her four-year old son Ahmed,” underscored Mr. Mladenov, adding that his Office's thoughts and prayers are with the family and especially with little Ahmed, “now orphaned due to this heinous act.”
The young Palestinian woman was severely injured in an arson attack in the West Bank which was strongly condemned by Mr. Mladenov, the UN Security Council and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who said at the time: “Continued failures to effectively address impunity for repeated acts of settler violence have led to another horrific incident involving the death of an innocent life. This must end.”
In his statement today, Mr. Mladenov reiterated and strengthened his earlier call for justice, and noted that while acknowledging the wide condemnations issued at the time of the incident by Israeli and Palestinian leaders, “I am nevertheless concerned by the lack of progress in identifying and prosecuting the perpetrators of this outrage.”
“The tragedy of the Dawabsha family serves as a shocking example of the destructive nature of extremism. It is incumbent upon political, religious and community leaders to speak out and to act decisively against those who incite and perpetrate hatred on all sides,” he declared.
He also emphasized that the UN is determined to work with all parties to create the conditions which would enable a return to meaningful negotiations to finally resolve this conflict and bring sustainable peace to the people of Israel and Palestine.