Bishop Shomali calls for more UN power to protect Palestinian rights

Bishop William Shomali, Vicar General of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, has called for increased authority for the United Nations and the Security Council to better protect Palestinian rights.

This appeal follows recent incidents in the Palestinian village of Kusra, south of Nablus, where Israeli settler groups reportedly surrounded Palestinian homes, restricting movement and access to essential goods. The situation gained international attention after U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee described the events in Kusra as a “terrifying act of terrorism,” specifically noting the harassment of a Palestinian-American family.

According to reports, the siege affected the home of Louis Ridi, a Palestinian-American citizen, whose family experienced disruptions to water and electricity and feared being forcibly displaced. Bishop Shomali noted that while settlers partially withdrew from the immediate vicinity of the home, they remained on nearby hills, leaving the situation unstable.