UN chief urges Israel peace deal with Palestinians for state
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon responded to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's election victory with a call for the new government to negotiate a final peace agreement that will create "a viable Palestinian state."
UN spokesman Farhan Haq made clear Wednesday that the unusually pointed statement reflects the secretary-general's expectation and response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign comments opposing a two-state solution.
He said Ban's call for the new government to create conditions for a negotiated peace deal includes halting "illegal settlement building."
"The secretary-general firmly believes this is also the best and only way forward for Israel to remain a democratic state," Haq said.
