Ban calls on Mideast leaders to "transform peace process"

137 views · Published 22 July 2009 · 1:12 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: United Nations · 2009 · News & Politics

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United Nations, New York, 22 July 2009 - Noon briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged Israel to freeze its settlement activity in the West Bank and the Palestinian Authority to intensify its efforts on the ground as he stressed the need for an agenda of transformative change in the Middle East peace process.

If Israel continues settlement activity, it will not only be acting contrary to international law but also to a strong international consensus, Mr. Ban said in a message to the United Nations International Meeting on the Question of Palestine, held in Geneva.

By contrast, if Israel freezes settlement activity, it would facilitate a new environment of cooperation and common purpose from countries in the region, building on the framework for the Arab Peace Initiative, he added.

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