UN's Ban 'deplores' Israel demolition of hotel

The UN chief "deplores" Israel's demolition of the Shepherd Hotel in East Jerusalem and said it only served to heighten tensions between Israel and the Palestinians, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

"It is deeply regrettable that growing international concern at unilateral expansion of illegal Israeli settlements is not being heeded," UN spokesman Martin Nesirky said in a statement summarizing Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's reaction to the Israeli move. (Reuters)