UN chief condemns Jerusalem synagogue attack

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday strongly condemns the attack on a synagogue in Jerusalem that left four dead. He laments a worsening of the situation on the ground.

“Beyond today’s reprehensible incident, clashes between Palestinian youths and Israeli security forces continue on a near daily basis in many parts of East Jerusalem and the West Bank,” Ban says in a statement.

“The steadily worsening situation on the ground only reinforces the imperative for leaders on both sides to make the difficult decisions that will promote stability and ensure long-term security for both Israelis and Palestinians,” he adds.

Ban calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to refrain from using provocative rhetoric that could stoke tensions and lead to violence.

He praises Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas for condemning the synagogue attack.

— AFP