India calls violence in Palestine 'unacceptable'

New Delhi, Mar 4 (UNI) India today called for an immediate end to the violence in Palestine, describing it as ''unacceptable,'' and said focus should not be lost on dialogue-driven conflict resolution.

Minister of State for External Affairs, Anand Sharma, in his address to the 'High-Level Segment of the Human Right's Council's 7th Session in Geneva, said the continuing violence in the Occupied palestine was a matter of ''grave concern,'' an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said here.

He described as ''unacceptable'' the recent events, including the ''disproportionate'' use of retaliatory force by Israel, leading to unavoidable civilian casualties, including those of children.

He called for an immediate end to the cycle of violence by all parties to ensure that focus was not lost on the process of dialogue-driven conflict resolution.

The seminar, which was inaugurated yesterday by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, is being attended by Foreign Ministers and other dignitaries from the Member and Observer States of the Council.

The Minister called on the Council to play a central role in combating terrorism which, he said, had emerged as the biggest challenge to peace and security and is a direct violation of human rights.

He recalled some of the recent steps by India to promote and protect Human Rights--ratification of the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and signing of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.

UNI RB SB HT1726