UN Special Envoy 'Disturbed' by Spike in Violence, Warns Israel and Palestinian Authority Alike The UN envoy to the Middle East is once again equating Arab violence against Israelis with IDF defense against stabbings. United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nicolay Mladenov has called on Israelis and Arabs from the Palestinian Authority to "preserve calm" and "avoid escalation" in the recent wave of terror. Unsurprisingly, Mladenov has drawn a moral equivalency between the attackers and the attackees. "I reiterate the United Nations position that there can be no justification for terrorism and violence," Mladenov stated. "I call upon authorities on both sides to take measures to preserve calm and avoid escalation, especially during the upcoming period of the Jewish High Holy Days." He added that he was "disturbed by the recent violence over the past week," as well he might be. Certainly, most Israelis are: more than a couple of Israeli police officers are in hospitals with stab wounds, including a few women. Mladenov drew a parallel between Israel and the Palestinian Authority without noting that if Israelis were not being attacked, Israeli defense forces would have no reason to respond in kind. True, there is no justification for terrorism and violence. Absolutely correct. But what do the Israelis have to do with it? This is another case of pointing the knife in the wrong direction, especially with the approach of the holiest days on the Jewish calendar. Even a Jew has the right to life; self-defense is a G-d given privilege that no one can take away, including the United Nations. | 
