U.N. envoy says Palestinians lack hope

JERUSALEM, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- A U.N. envoy said the Palestinian community is being crushed by Israel's attempts to maintain security.

"This time, I was very struck by the sense of hopelessness among the Palestinian people, Envoy John Dugard told the BBC in a story published Monday.

Dugard said the Palestinians' plight is made worse by the "deaf ears" of the Quartet of Middle East mediators -- the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations.

Dugard said he will recommend the United Nations withdraw from the quartet if it isn't willing to address Palestinian rights, especially when it comes to the "crushing effect of human rights violations" on the Palestinians' freedom of movement in the West Bank.

"Every time I visit, the situation seems to have worsened," said Dugan, who has been visiting the West Bank and Gaza for seven years as an envoy.

Dugan also faulted the Quartet for being unduly influenced by the United States and for siding with Fatah in its conflict with the rival Hamas party.