Switzerland: President Abbas slams Netanyahu's Holocaust claims

President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas lambasted the Israeli occupation of Palestine at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Wednesday, calling the current situation "the worst since 1948." Abbas addressed a full assembly at the UN headquarters and called for "a strong and precise intervention." The recent wave of violence which has plagued the Israeli-Palestinian territories was described as "critical" with Abbas proposing that the resolve "requires shouldering the responsibilities before it is too late." Abbas went on to slam Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his "incomprehensible" remarks associating former Grand Mufti of Jerusalem Haj Amin al-Husseini with the Holocaust. "We refuse incitement and misrepresentation of the history and struggle of the Palestinian people." Violence has escalated across the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel in recent weeks, with several deaths reported including the shooting of Palestinian protesters by Israeli forces. Since the start of October, at least 55 Palestinians have been killed in shootings and clashes with Israeli forces, while nine Israelis at least have died as a result of attacks.