L to R: Ban Ki-moon and Mahmoud Abbas
Photo: AFP
UN Sec. Gen. admonishes PM over 'ethnic cleansing' remark, calls settlements roadblock to peace
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon voiced his apprehension regarding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas saying that he would not allow Jews to live in a future Palestinian state; rejecting Netanyahu's claim that this amounts to 'ethnic cleansing,' Ki-moon said that it is in fact the settlements that are the major obstacle to peace.
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his deep concern over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent remarks, in which he described Palestinian President Mahnoud Abbas’ refusal to allow Jews to live in a future Palestinian state as “ethnic cleansing”.
Interpreting Netanyahu’s words to mean that anyone who opposes expanding the settlements supports the ethnic cleansing of Israelis, Ban stated that his response to Abbas was "unacceptable and outrageous,".
Speaking before the Security Council, Ban said, "Let me be absolutely clear: settlements are illegal under international law. The occupation, stifling and oppressive, must end." Ban also said that the settlements are the key obstacle for peace.
L to R: Ban Ki-moon and Benjamin Netanyahu (Photo: Yonatan Zindel, Flash 90)
Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon responded to Ban’s statement, saying that it presented a twisted view of the situation in Israel. He added that the true obstacle to peace “begins and ends” with Abu Mazen refusing to meet with Netanyahu. He also suggested that Ban start admonishing Hamas for building underground tunnels and developing a terrorist infrastructure, instead of continuously criticizing Israel.
