Israel should not take revenge on the Palestinian Authority over Palestine's appeal to the UN International Court of Justice (ICJ), spokeswoman for the UN secretary-general's office Stephanie Tremblay said on Monday.

In early January, the Israeli government took a number of measures against the Palestinian authorities due to the adoption of a UN General Assembly resolution following Palestine's appeal that called on the ICJ to issue a legal opinion on the consequences of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories. Specifically, the Israeli government decided to prevent construction projects in Palestine's Area C and divert the funds slated for Palestinians in the amount of $39 million in favor of the families of Israelis who died in clashes with Palestinian patriots and resistance groups, the media reported.

Tremblay told a briefing that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was against any retaliation against the Palestinian Authority in the context of the situation with the ICJ.


The spokeswoman added that Guterres noted "with deep concern" the recent measures taken by Israel against the Palestinian Authority, and again called on the parties to refrain from unilateral steps that undermine bilateral confidence, as well as the path to the resumption of the political process between the two states.

The Israeli government violates the sovereignty of Palestine and builds settlements inhabited by citizens of Israel in the occupied areas despite objections from the UN.