The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, called yesterday for international monitors to be sent to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, where she accused Israel of "excessive use of force" against Palestinians.
In a report to the UN General Assembly, she called on both Israeli security forces and the Palestinians to spare civilian lives and property, and make efforts to halt the "current dangerous escalation" of violence.
She also called for a halt to construction of new Jewish settlements in the territories, where Israeli military installations protecting them have become "flashpoints for stone-throwing and shooting by Palestinians with severe retaliation by Israeli military", according to her report.
Mrs Robinson was reporting on her visit to the area between November 8th and 16th. "The thrust of the report is urgently calling international attention to the bleak human rights situation in the occupied territories, the need for an international monitoring presence . . . and the need for measures to be taken to reduce the terrible violence," she told a news conference in Geneva.
"The number of killed and seriously injured - disabled for life - is very serious indeed, and a high percentage of those - nearly 50 per cent - are under the age of 18," she added.
"I have put to them (Israeli defence officials) various points including the excessive use of force, live ammunition and rubber bullets at close range," Mrs Robinson said.
"The construction of new settlements should cease and those located in the midst of heavily populated Palestinian areas should be removed," she added.
"As well as protecting settlers, Israeli security forces should also protect Palestinians from violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers."
Mrs Robinson said that during her "very frank" meetings with senior Israeli defence force officers, she had raised the possibility of deploying an international monitoring or protection force in the territories.
"The viewpoint put to me was that Israel did not favour internationalising the conflict in this way but they would prefer if possible to have dialogue resumed on the previous basis of continuing with basically the Oslo process.
"But I had an impression - it is just an impression - that it was not in fact completely ruled out on the Israeli side. I would hope that was the case," she added.
Former US senator Mr George Mitchell said on Monday that a fact-finding commission he heads intended to go to the region soon and complete its report next March. However, Mr Mitchell made it clear that he had not yet organised a technical back-up team for the trip.