Israel runs contrary to two-state solution - Ban

NEW YORK, Nov 21 (KUNA) -- Israel's statements of intent as well as activities on settlement expansion run contrary to UN efforts to bring about the two-State solution, UN chief said on Friday.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's message was delivered by Interim Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Jens Toyberg-Frandzen at the UN International Meeting of Parliamentarians in Support of Israeli-Palestinian Peace.
On the Question of Palestine, parliamentarians have a special responsibility to ensure that their Governments actively promote and support the realization of a peaceful and just solution of this conflict and uphold obligations under international law, including humanitarian and human rights law, UN official added, terming UN-parliamentarians relations as crucial.
Ban repeatedly voiced serious concern about rising tensions in East Jerusalem, as incitement from both sides continued to fuel tensions and violence, Toyberg-Frandzen noted.
"De-escalation is urgently needed," he said.
The UN official then welcomed the repeated assurances from the Government of Israel to the international community that there is no intention to change the status quo regarding the holy sites. Meanwhile, the suffering of the people in Gaza persists in the aftermath of this summer's brutal conflict.
Ban then commended the international community for its generous pledges of support for reconstruction in Gaza, and cleared that these funds need to be disbursed without further delay.
The two-State solution is long overdue, he said, a just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on the relevant Security Council resolutions, previous agreements, the Madrid principles, the Quartet Road Map and the Arab Peace Initiative "can still be achieved if the parties, supported by the international community, demonstrate the collective political will to implement these constructive proposals." The event was organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. (end) mao.bs