UN chief calls ‘ethnic cleansing’ video ‘unacceptable, outrageous’

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon cudgeled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, saying a recent video in which the Israeli leader asserts that the Palestinians seek the “ethnic cleansing” of Jews from the West Bank was “unacceptable and outrageous.”

Speaking before the UN Security Council, Ban said Netanyahu’s portrayal of “those who oppose settlement expansion as supporters of ethnic cleansing” was “disturbing,” joining others in condemning the Israeli prime minister for the video.

“This is unacceptable and outrageous,” Ban said. “Let me be absolutely clear: settlements are illegal under international law. The occupation, stifling and oppressive, must end.”

Ban added that “the international community, including the Security Council and the Middle East Quartet, universally views the expansion of settlements as an obstacle to peace.”

On Wednesday, Ban also expressed disapproval with the video, which was posted by Netanyahu’s office late last week.

In the clip, Netanyahu asked whether people in other parts of the world would accept demands for the removal of a specific ethnic group in their own countries, saying Palestinians were demanding that no Jews be allowed to reside in their territory.

It’s “outrageous that the world doesn’t find it outrageous,” Netanyahu said, urging viewers to ask themselves whether they would accept “a territory without Jews, without Hispanics, without blacks” in their nation. “Since when is bigotry a foundation for peace?” he asked.

The Obama administration last week described the comments as “inappropriate.”

“We believe that using that type of terminology is inappropriate and unhelpful,” State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said.

The video also drew angry denunciations from Israeli Arabs and Palestinian leaders, with PA President Mahmoud Abbas accusing Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing.

Israel began building settlements in the West Bank after it captured the territory, previously controlled by Jordan, in the 1967 Six Day War. Today, over 350,000 Israelis live in West Bank settlements and outposts and another 200,000 in East Jerusalem, which Israel considers part of its territory.

The international community considers Israeli building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal. Jerusalem argues the status of West Bank settlements is subject to a final peace deal with the Palestinians.

‘Appalled by Palestinian glorification of terror’

Inhis wide-ranging remarks, Ban also criticized Palestinians for what he said was the “glorification of terror.”

“I continue to be appalled that Palestinian parties choose to praise despicable acts, such as the 1972 terrorist attack against Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics. The glorification of terror is disgraceful and the Palestinian leadership must put an end to it,” he said.

The UN chief also said he was concerned by the recent cancellation of planned local elections in the Palestinian territories, and condemned the firing of a rocket from Gaza into Israel.

“Instability and the risk of violent escalation are ever-present,” he said. “The continued arms build-up and militant activities by Hamas and other radical groups keep both sides of the border in a state of constant alert.”

He also called on Syria and Israel to calm spiraling tensions in the Golan Heights.

“I remain concerned by the continued breaches of the ceasefire line, and by fighting in the areas of separation and limitation,” he said. “I call on Israel and Syria to abide by the terms of the Disengagement Agreement and exercise maximum restraint.”

The secretary-general also expressed his “hope for a swift and full recovery” of former president Shimon Peres, who suffered a stroke on Tuesday and is currently listed in serious condition, though doctors said there has been improvement since his initial arrival in hospital.

AP contributed to this report.