Ban calls for end to occupation by Israel

UN chief Ban Ki-moon yesterday called for an end to Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, saying the illegal building of settlements worked against a two-state solution. “The Israeli occupation of Arab and Palestinian territories must end. So must violence against civilians,” Ban said in a keynote address at a conference in Beirut on democracy in the Arab world. “Settlements, new and old, are illegal. They work against the emergence of a viable Palestinian state,” said the UN secretary general. “A two-state solution is long overdue. The status quo offers only the guarantee of future conflict.” Ban arrived in Beirut on Friday to attend a conference entitled “Reform and Transitions to Democracy” organised by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA). Among the conference speakers are Egyptian presidential hopeful and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, whose country has emerged as a key regional player in the Middle East. The Israeli foreign ministry responded to Ban’s comments by saying ongoing talks between Palestinian and Israeli negotiators were the best way to address the concerns raised by the UN chief. “The only thing I can say at this point is that the most important thing is to keep negotiations going in view of solving all of the issues including those mentioned by the secretary general,” said ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor. “The most important thing now is not to jeopardise the talks that are under way.” Palestinian and Israeli negotiators have so far held three rounds of “exploratory” talks in Jordan to discuss the possibility of resuming negotiations that have been on hold since late September 2010. But a deep divide continues to separate the two sides in the talks, held under the auspices of Jordan and the peacemaking Quartet. “There is still a wide gap between us on all positions because the Israeli side has not presented anything new and continues to hinder the resumption of negotiations,” a Palestinian official close to the negotiations said in Ramallah. Israel accused the Palestinians of trying to scupper peace talks. “The Netanyahu government has always said that it is ready to sit at the table and discuss these subjects,” strategic affairs minister Moshe Yaalon told Israeli public radio yesterday. Yaalon said Palestinian President Mahm0ud Abbas was “endlessly adding preconditions”. “Of course we are not ready to start with the border and security arrangements,” he added. The Quartet, comprising the UN, US, European Union and Russia, has urged both sides to present comprehensive proposals on borders and security before January 26 with a view to resuming talks shortly afterwards. While only the Palestinians have done so so far, Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was considering submitting proposals on borders and security in March.