26 Feb 2013

UN / MIDDLE EAST

United Nations Political Affairs chief Jeffrey Feltman voiced his concern after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in southern Israel, breaching the ceasefire reached last November, and called for urgently resuming negotiations aimed at breaking the impasse in theMiddle Eastpeace process. UNTV

Posted at: February 26, 2013 4:48 pm

Duration: 02:18

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / MIDDLE EAST
TRT: 2.18
SOURCE: UNTV 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 26 FEBRUARY 2013, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

FILE – RECENT, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations headquarters

15 OCTOBER 2012, NEW YORK CITY

2. Zoom in, Security Council
3. Med shot, delegates
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey D. Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"It is already into a year that could preserve or even extinguish what hope remains for a two-state solution, and I do believe that it is not hyperbole to say that. Yet, as demonstrated today in the troubling rocket attack fired from Gaza into Israel, the temperature is again rising between Israelis and Palestinians."
5. Med shot, delegates 
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey D. Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"We are deeply troubled by today's rocket attack into Israel. There is no justification for such attacks which not only target innocent civilians indiscriminately, but which risk triggering a renewed spiral of violence that would only bring suffering to Palestinians and Israelis alike."
7. Med shot, delegates 
8.	SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey D. Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"The United Nations underscores the importance of restoring and maintaining calm and calls for independent and transparent investigation by Israeli authorities into the circumstances of Mr. Jaradat's death, the result of which should be made public as soon as possible. A particular concern also is the deteriorating health of four prisoners who have engaged in an extended hunger strike."
9.	Med shot, delegates 
10.	SOUNDBITE (English) Jeffrey D. Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs:
"There should be no room in a future Syria for those who hold contempt for the beliefs, practices and symbols of other religious traditions `or who cite secularism as a pretext for trying to monopolize power predominantly in the hands of one group. There is no room for sectarianism or discrimination on any grounds. All communities must be assured that their rights should be respected."
11.	Med shot, delegates 
12.	Wide shot, Security Council

STORYLINE:

A top United Nations (UN) political affairs official today (26 February) voiced concern after a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip landed in southern Israel, breaching the ceasefire reached last November, and called for urgently resuming negotiations aimed at breaking the impasse in the Middle East peace process.

In his briefing to the Security Council, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman underscored the "troubling" nature of today's incident and stressed the need to inject new life in the political process aimed at reaching a two-State solution.

Feltman said there was "no justification for such attacks which not only target innocent civilians indiscriminately, but which risk triggering a renewed spiral of violence that would only bring suffering to Palestinians and Israelis alike."

The rocket, which landed in Ashkelon, reportedly caused some damage but no injuries. It marks the first breach of the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire agreement of 21 November, which brought an end to eight days of violence in Gaza and Israel.

Gaza militants from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade cited the death on Saturday in Israeli detention of Arafat Jaradat in claiming responsibility for the rocket attack. The prisoner's death has also sparked a series of demonstrations and clashes, which have reportedly resulted in the injuries of 43 Palestinians by Israeli security forces.

Feltman called for an independent and transparent investigation into the circumstances of Jaradat's death, which occurred just a few days after his arrest.

He also expressed "particular concern" at the deteriorating health of four Palestinian prisoners who have engaged in an extended hunger strike.

Turning to Syria, the UN official voiced alarm at the increase in sectarian violence. He said "there should be no room in a future Syria for those who hold contempt for the beliefs, practices and symbols of other religious traditions or who cite secularism as a pretext for trying to monopolize power predominantly in the hands of one group."

He added that "all communities must be assured that their rights should be respected."

The nearly-two-year-old conflict has left over 4 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, including 2 million internally displaced, and led more than 900,000 people to flee to neighbouring countries, including over 150,000 this month alone, he stated.