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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Tuesday called on Palestine and Israel to overcome differences and halt unilateral initiatives that fuel mistrust, so as to pursue long-term stability in the region.
Making the appeal at a quarterly open debate of the Security Council on the Middle East, Ban briefed the participants on the Gaza reconstruction efforts and his recent visit to the region.
"There is no hope for long-term stability in Gaza without addressing the underlying causes of the conflict: an end to the occupation that has ground on for nearly half a century, a full lifting of the blockade on the Gaza Strip and effectively addressing Israel's legitimate security concerns," he said.
Ultimately, long-term stability requires a comprehensive peace agreement leading to a viable and independent Palestinian state, Ban noted.
Ban's appeal came at a time when tensions were running high at Jerusalem where Israeli authorities imposed restrictions on Palestinians seeking to enter the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the world's third holiest sites for Muslims, leading to clashes between Palestinian worshipers and Israeli forces.
Expressing deep concern over restrictions and provocations at the holy sites in Jerusalem, Ban said: "Leaders on both sides must overcome their differences and dispense with the unilateral initiatives that serve only to fuel mistrust and polarization," he said. "The two-state solution is the only viable option for a durable peace."
Ban also praised the Palestinians for taking critical steps to forge a united path to the future, citing an intra-Palestinian reconciliation agreement signed in April and the recent historical meeting hosted by the Palestinian prime minister, Rami Hamdallad, in Gaza.
"A united Palestinian government is beginning to take shape," he said.
The UN chief criticized Israel's continued settlement building activities, which he said were illegal under the international law and ran counter to the pursuit of a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, Ban called on the international community to move quickly to deliver much needed assistance to the region as winter is approaching.
According to the UN, more than 100,000 residents of Gaza remain homeless with over 50,000 still sheltering in school buildings of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. Many still lack access to the municipal water network. Blackouts of up to 18 hours per day are common. Enditem
