On impromptu Mideast trip, UN chief warns of ‘dangerous escalation’

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday warned Israelis and Palestinians of a possible “dangerous escalation,” and urged both sides to move swiftly to calm weeks of unrest.

“My visit reflects the sense of global alarm at the dangerous escalation in violence between Israelis and Palestinians,” he told journalists after meeting President Reuven Rivlin during a surprise visit to Jerusalem. “If we do not act fast, the dynamics on the ground will only get worse.”

Rivlin, on his part, stressed that Israel had no intention of making any changes to the status quo on the Temple Mount.

“Israel has not, and will not, change one letter of the status quo agreement,” Rivlin said. “The agreement was not meant to divide the different faiths, but to build understanding. Israel will continue to respect the rights of the Muslim worshippers, and the holiness of the site.”

The president also said that, “The Temple Mount is being held hostage by people who want to bring about a religious war. We cannot allow this. Israel has no war with Islam.”

The current outbreak of violence was fueled by rumors that Israel was plotting to destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque and take over the Temple Mount, the holiest site to Jews and the third holiest one to Muslims.

Israel has adamantly denied the allegations, saying there are no plans to change the status quo between Muslim worshipers and Jewish visitors to the site, and has accused the Palestinians of incitement. Jews can currently visit the religious holy site but are not allowed to pray there.

Ban arrived from Europe on Tuesday afternoon, and was set to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and later with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.

Ahead of Ban’s meeting with the Israeli president, Netanyahu urged the UN chief to stand beside Israel in its efforts to stem violent attacks.

“I expect the UN Secretary-General and the responsible and leading countries of the world to tell the truth,” Netanyahu said during a visit to the IDF’s Gaza Division headquarters.

“We clean out the lies, and require each responsible entity of the international community to stand against the lies and stand with the truth.”

Hours before his visit, Ban released a video addressing Israelis and Palestinians about what he called “the dangerous escalation in violence across the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel and especially in Jerusalem.”

I am dismayed – as we all should be – when I see young people, children, picking up weapons and seeking to kill. Violence will only undermine the legitimate Palestinian aspirations for statehood and the longing of Israelis for security,” he said.

Directing his comments to Palestinian youth, the secretary-general said he understood the frustrations felt by the younger generation.

“I know your hopes for peace have been dashed countless times. You are angry at the continued occupation and expansion of settlements. Many of you are disappointed in your leaders and in us, the international community, because of our inability to end this conflict.”

He called on the Palestinian leadership to “harness the energy of your people in a peaceful way to make their dreams and aspirations a reality.”

Ban also addressed Israeli security concerns.

“When children are afraid to go to school, when anyone on the street is a potential victim, security is rightly your immediate priority. But walls, checkpoints, harsh responses by the security forces and house demolitions cannot sustain the peace and safety that you need and must have,” he said.

Last week Ban urged Israel to carry out a “serious review” on whether its security forces are resorting to excessive force in clashes with Palestinians.

Ban finds “the apparent excessive use of force by Israeli security forces” to be “troubling,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at a press conference.

This “demands serious review as it only serves to exacerbates the situation leading to a vicious cycle of needless bloodshed,” he said.

Over the past month, 10 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks, most of them stabbings. In that time, 43 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, including 21 during attacks on Israelis, and the rest in clashes with Israeli security forces. An Eritrean national died Sunday after being shot by a security guard and then beaten by a mob that mistakenly believed he was a Palestinian terrorist.