ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS MUST MOVE BEYOND WORDS AND TAKE CONCRETE ACTION ON FINAL STATUS ISSUES, BAN TELLS UN MEETING

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 29 Apr 2013 18:00:00 -0400
Subject: ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS MUST MOVE BEYOND WORDS AND
TAKE CONCRETE ACTION ON FINAL STATUS ISSUES, BAN TELLS UN MEETING
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

ISRAELI AND PALESTINIAN LEADERS MUST MOVE BEYOND WORDS AND TAKE
CONCRETE ACTION ON FINAL STATUS ISSUES, BAN TELLS UN MEETINGNew York,
Apr 29 2013 6:00PMWelcoming renewed international engagement in the
Middle East peace process, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said
that building on that support required Israeli and Palestinian
political leaders to "move beyond words" and tackle final status
issues in a constructive spirit.

"The status quo is unsustainable, both politically and economically,"
the Secretary-General said in a
<"http://www.un.org/sg/statements/index.asp?nid=6784">message
delivered on his behalf by the Executive Secretary of the Economic
Commission for Africa, Carlos Lopes, to the United Nations
<"http://unispal.un.org/databases/dprtest/ngoweb.nsf/f12fded4d0597000852573fc005b9471/aa987555796e811085257b3300638819?OpenDocument">International
Meeting on the Question of Palestine, which began today in Addis
Ababa. "There is an urgent need for a concerted push for peace this
year if we are to salvage the two-State solution, he said.

The two-day meeting, organized by the Committee on the Exercise of the
Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, is on the theme "African
solidarity with the Palestinian people for the achievement of its
inalienable rights, including the sovereignty and independence of the
State of Palestine".

In is message, the Secretary-General said that the accomplishments of
the Palestinian State-building programme and donor funding will be
difficult to maintain in the absence of concrete progress on the
political track.

Again emphasizing the belief that 2013 would be a critical year for
the peace process, he outlined his five priorities: collective
international engagement, meaningful negotiations, stability in Gaza,
Palestinian reconciliation, and preventing the financial collapse of
the Palestinian Authority. "These goals are interdependent and
mutually reinforcing," he said.

"A window of opportunity for renewed international engagement has
opened following the visit of President Obama to the region. I am
also encouraged by the subsequent visits by Secretary of State John
Kerry," he said.

In his recent meeting with President Obama, Secretary-General Ban
reiterated the commitment of the United Nations to support any serious
initiative that presents a credible political horizon, including
multilaterally, through the diplomatic Quartet and key regional
partners. "Now is the time for concerted action," he said.

He said that the decision by the United States to restore aid to the
Palestinians was highly welcome, as was the decision of the Israeli
Government to resume the monthly transfers of clearance revenues. "I
call on donors, especially those from the region, to accelerate the
provision of timely and predictable assistance to stabilize the
finances of the Palestinian Authority."

Meanwhile, he stressed the crucial need to defuse tensions on the
ground and to preserve the calm. The Secretary-General was concerned
by renewed violence, particularly over the situation of Palestinian
prisoners and violations of the November 2012 Gaza ceasefire.

Israel's decision to close key crossings in Gaza had only exacerbated
an already dire humanitarian situation, he said, urging the parties to
refrain from actions and rhetoric that aggravated tensions and
diminished the prospects for negotiations, "which remain the only way
towards the two-State solution."

Recognizing the importance of the prisoners' issue, he said that
prisoner deaths should be promptly investigated by an independent
authority. "A solution must be urgently found for the long-term
hunger strikers," he said, adding that administrative detainees should
be charged and face trial, or released without delay. Israel must
respect the right to peaceful protest and act with restraint, and
protests should be kept non-violent.

He said that the United Nations would continue its efforts to solidify
the Gaza ceasefire and he condemned the indiscriminate rocket fire
from Gaza. At the same time, Gaza borders should be fully opened for
the legitimate movement of people and goods. That was especially
important given the humanitarian situation, he said, with much of
Gaza's population relying on assistance from the UN and its partners,
and given the major investments required for Gaza's water resources
and other critical development needs.

"I am deeply troubled by Israel's continued settlement activity in the
West Bank and East Jerusalem, all of which is illegal under
international law," the Secretary-General said, emphasizing that those
actions constitute ever-greater impediments to peace and must not be
allowed to prejudge the outcome of final status negotiations. At the
same time, Israel's legitimate security concerns must be recognized
and addressed, especially on the issue of arms smuggling and rocket
fire.Apr 29 2013 6:00PM
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