UN calls for direct Netanyahu-Abbas talks

Related stories

BREAKING: Ex-President Buhari sick, hospitalised abroad

Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is currently undergoing medical...

MTN’s Dabengwa Tier III Cloud Data Centre: A New Era for West African Tech and AI

By Sonny Iroche West Africa’s Largest Tier III Data Centre...

Ganduje: Why are they resigning?

By Bola Bolawole turnpot@gmail.com 0807 552 5533 (Published in my TREASURES...

OPEC Reports a Global Oil Production Decline in 2024

Global crude oil production declined by 1% last year,...

downloadUN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Friday that it was time for Israeli and Palestinian leaders to meet face-to-face to lower tensions over attacks in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

“I strongly suggested and urged them to sit down together,” Ban told reporters after his return from the Middle East, where he met separately with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

“There is no substitute to direct talks.”

Ban’s visit to the region came amid sharp tensions over a series of violent attacks that have left several Israelis and Palestinians dead.

Ban stressed the need for a de-escalation in the region, saying that “the level of incitement is utterly unacceptable.”

He expressed concern that tensions around disputed holy sites in Jerusalem, known as the Temple Mount to Jews and Haram al-Sharif to Palestinians, risked injecting a religious dimension to the conflict “that could be exploited by extremists on both sides, with potentially dangerous regional implications.”

Ban had earlier warned that a “dangerous escalation” could lead to a full-scale Palestinian uprising. He reported to the Security Council on Wednesday that he was “not optimistic” following his talks in the region.

But he said Friday that “despite the anger and polarization, there is still time to step back from the brink.”

He exhorted both Netanyahu and Abbas to take careful steps toward de-escalation.

Ban said it was “critical that Israel exercise maximum restraint and make sure that security measures are properly calibrated, so that they do not breed the very frustrations and anxieties which perpetuate violence.”

And he said he had urged Abbas “to harness the energy and passion of the people, particularly young people, towards a peaceful direction” rather than “resorting to violent means.”

Ban said that his special envoy for the peace process, Nickolay Mladenov, would visit both Israel and the Palestinian territories soon “to explore significant steps that each side can take to restore confidence and move towards an end to occupation and the establishment of a viable, sustainable Palestinian state.”

Hamilton Nwosa
Hamilton Nwosa
Hamilton Nwosa is an experienced, and committed communication, business, administrative, data and research specialist . His deep knowledge of the intersection between communication, business, data, and journalism are quite profound. His passion for professional excellence remains the guiding principle of his work, and in the course of his career spanning sectors such as administration, tourism, business management, communication and journalism, Hamilton has won key awards. He is a delightful writer, researcher and data analyst. He loves team-work, problem-solving, organizational management, communication strategy, and enjoys travelling. He can be reached at: hamilton_68@yahoo.com

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
BREAKING: Ex-President Buhari sick, hospitalised abroad2027: Abure, Usman Clash Over Peter Obi’s Rising Profile in ADC CoalitionMTN’s Dabengwa Tier III Cloud Data Centre: A New Era for West African Tech and AIGanduje: Why are they resigning?OPEC Reports a Global Oil Production Decline in 2024IMF Warns FG to Overhaul 2025 Budget to Prevent Economic Meltdown2027: Peter Obi Vows, Says ADC Coalition 'll prioritize Nigerians’ WelfareTragedy! Liverpool Star Diogo Jota Dies in Car Crash in SpainFamily Announces Burial Date of Ex-Kwara Governor, Cornelius AdebayoSex Scandal: Baltasar Engonga, Ex-Equatorial Guinea Anti-Corruption Boss Bags 18 YearsFormer AGF Abubakar Malami Dumps APC, Joins ADCIt’s Another Big Brother Season Of DistractionsYou must marry me and my children, By Funke Egbemode[VIDEO] Drama as Burglar is Caught in Overnight Heist at FCMB Branch in Imo2027: Why Peter Obi Proposed a Single-Tenure to Atiku, David Mark, Others -Obidient Movt Reveals
X whatsapp