HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS CONDEMNS HEBRON KILLINGS

16 November 2002


The following statement was issued today by Sergio Vieira de Mello, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights :
"The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights condemns yesterday’s killings in the West Bank town of Hebron. This attack was made all the more terrible by being carried out as some of the victims returned from worship on the Sabbath.
Such acts, including the outrageous terrorist attack last week in a Kibbutz – an institution that stood for peaceful co-existence between Israelis and Arabs - serve only to undermine the cause of the Palestinian people.
The increasing spiral of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict makes the search for peace, guided by the road map being prepared by the Quartet, all the more pressing. Only with true peace, in a context of mutual respect, can the human rights of all parties concerned be fully enjoyed.
The High Commissioner extends his sympathies to the families of the victims. He calls on the Government of Israel to respond to this attack in a measured manner in accordance with international law".



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