UN warns of rise in security-selated incidents in West Bank

Nickolay Mladenov, the U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, on Friday called for an immediate end to violence in the West Bank with concerns over the continued deadly incidents in the region, including East Jerusalem.

"I condemn today's fatal shooting by Israel Defense Forces of a 17-year-old Palestinian during an alleged stone-throwing incident," said Mladenov in a press statement issued by his office, in which he said that all sides must exercise restraint, maintain calm and promptly bring the perpetrators of the violence to justice.

"These tragic incidents, once again, highlight the need for a return to a political process with the goal of establishing two states living side-by-side in peace and security," he declared.

The incidents are also taking place at time when the Middle East faces a "vicious tide of terror and extremism," he added.