UN blast over ‘advanced weaponry’ JEDDAH: Violence in the occupied West Bank risks spiraling out of control fueled by Israel’s use of advanced military weaponry more suited to a war zone, the UN human rights chief warned on Friday. Volker Turk spoke after a week of bloodshed and carnage in which the Israeli military deployed Apache helicopter gunships and an armed drone to attack Palestinians, and militant settlers rampaged through a Palestinian village torching homes and cars. At least 14 Palestinians have been killed this week alone. Israeli airstrikes with helicopter gunships on Jenin refugee camp on Monday were a “major intensification of the use of weaponry more generally associated with the conduct of armed hostilities, rather than a law enforcement situation,” Turk said. “Israel must urgently reset its policies and actions in the West Bank in line with international human rights standards, including protecting and respecting the right to life. These latest killings and the violence along with the inflammatory rhetoric serve only to drive Israelis and Palestinians deeper into an abyss.” Despite the UN plea, Israel’s far-right extremist security minister called for more violence. “We must launch a military operation, bring down buildings, eliminate terrorists, not one or two but dozens and hundreds and if necessary thousands,” said Itamar Ben-Gvir, an illegal settler and a notorious religious bigot with a criminal record for terrorist offenses. Nevertheless, Israel is coming under mounting international pressure over Wednesday’s attack on the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya, when up to 300 settlers attacked residents and damaged dozens of homes and cars. One villager was killed in the rampage. A delegation from more than 20 diplomatic missions including the EU and the US visited the village on Friday to inspect the damage. EU representative Sven Kuehn von Burgsdorff blasted Israel for failing to meet its obligations to protect Palestinians. “There was no attempt or effort to stop the settlers,” he said. Three settlers have been arrested over the attack but the Israeli army admitted on Friday it had failed to prevent it. Army spokesman Daniel Hagari said troops had tried to do so but they were stretched too thin. “We didn’t have, in the first wave, enough forces in the area they chose. We failed this time.” Turmus Ayya is home to a significant number of Palestinian Americans, and the young Palestinian killed in the attack — Omar Jabara, 25 — held a US Green Card. Residents voiced their anger at the lack of action from Washington. “We are helpless,” said Yaser Al-Kam, 33. "I’m speaking on behalf of this peaceful town where 80 per cent to 90 per cent of residents are US citizens. We hold passports, does this passport matter?”