Outgoing UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has urged the UN Security Council to confirm without reservations the absence of any alternative to the two-state solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict as well as the need for Israel to end its blockade on Gaza.
Ki-moon made his remarks in his final briefing to the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East especially the Palestinian question.
He stressed the need for bold and concrete steps by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority that would pave the way for meaningful peace negotiations.
He pointed out that “Gaza the West Bank and east Jerusalem have been under military occupation since 1967.”
“These lands comprise the future Palestinian state ultimately to be agreed by the parties through direct negotiations” he said.
The UN official also condemned Israel’s settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territories as illegitimate under international law.
“As I have consistently stated Israel’s settlement activity beyond the 1967 line is in flagrant violation of international law and the Fourth Geneva Convention.”
As for Gaza he warned that “Gaza is a tinder box and certain to explode unless movement and access restrictions are lifted and humanitarian needs are addressed.”
