Aide: UN chief doesn’t support terror, stands by comments on Palestinians

UN chief Ban Ki-moon rejects Israeli claims that his comments on “Palestinian frustration” promote terrorism, his spokesman says, adding that Ban believes “nothing, absolutely nothing, can justify terrorism.”

Ban sparked Israeli outrage yesterday with his comments about the terror attacks of the past four months, in which over 25 Israelis have been killed.

“Stabbings, vehicle attacks, and shootings by Palestinians targeting Israeli civilians – all of which I condemn — and clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces, have continued to claim lives,” Ban told the UN Security Council, adding that, “Palestinian frustration is growing under the weight of a half century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process.”

Spokesman Stephane Dujarric says today that Ban stands by “every word of his statement” to the Security Council.

Palestinians and Israelis must understand that “the status quo is untenable,” Dujarric adds.