U.S., U.N. criticises Israel for new settlement-building plans

The Guardian

UN secretary general also calls on Binyamin Netanyahu to show leadership and resume the peace process with Palestinians

The UN secretary general has strongly criticised Israeli settlement-building in a series of pointed remarks made in Jerusalem and Ramallah in which he challenged Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, to show leadership and make compromises for peace.

Ban Ki-moon – who is on a two-day visit to the region – also called for an end to provocations at Jerusalem’s holy sites which, have caused clashes in recent days.

Citing Israel’s recent announcement on new settlement construction plans for east Jerusalem, Ban condemned the plans as a “clear violation of international law”.

The relationship between Ban and Netanyahu has reportedly been difficult of late, with accounts of a terse exchange during a recent encounter in New York.

In a clear indication of his frustration over the issue of Israeli settlement-building Ban remarked: “Turning to a subject I am very sorry to have to raise yet again – I am very concerned about the recent announcement of plans to advance settlements in east Jerusalem, which are in clear violation of international law.

“This does not send the right signal and I urge the government of Israel to reverse these activities.”

The Jerusalem municipality announced two weeks ago that it had approved plans for the construction of some 2,500 homes in Givat Hamatos, a development that would complete a band of Jewish housing in east Jerusalem and present another obstacle to the Palestinian goal of establishing a capital in the area – captured by Israel in the 1967 war.

Turning to the issue of recent clashes on Temple Mount, Ban added: “As you mentioned this holy site in Jerusalem and as I also said this morning, I am deeply concerned by repeated provocations at the holy sites in Jerusalem. These only inflame tensions and must stop.”

Ban also urged Netanyahu to resume Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations.

In a bleak assessment of the stalled process, Ban echoed the words of US secretary of state John Kerry, who called for reconstruction fo the Gaza Strip at the Cairo donor conference on Sunday. And he said: “Time is not on the side of peace.”

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