UN's Ban calls on Israel and Palestinians to show 'political courage' to reach peace

UN's Ban calls on Israel and Palestinians to show 'political courage' to reach peace

2010-11-30 14:51:08 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday called on Israel and the Palestinian Authority to show political courage to reach peace as well as resuming direct peace talks.

"I challenge the two leaders to show statesmanship and political courage in reaching a historic peace," the UN head said. "The international community, for its part, must be ready to assume its own responsibilities for peace."

Ban noted the little optimism on each side that peace could be achieved within the one year target set as the direct peace talks resumed in September. However, the negotiations ended when Israel resumed the construction of hundreds of new settlements in the West Bank area, mostly in East Jerusalem.

"This development is a serious blow to the credibility of the political process. The obligation remains on Israel to meet its responsibilities under international law and to freeze settlement activity," Ban said.

The UN Secretary-General highlighted the continued commitment of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in regards to the two states living side by side in peace and security. Ban also remarked Abbas' rejection towards violence and terrorism.

Ban noted that an 'overwhelming' international consensus exists on the need to end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory since the 1967 war, address the major security concern of both sides, find a solution to the refugee issue and see Jerusalem emerge from the talks as the capital of two nations.

The comments were made during the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This celebration marks the date in 1947 when the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution for dividing Jerusalem, which was then controlled by Palestine, into two states, one Arab and one Jew.

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