UN chief rebuffs Netanyahu’s claim that he stokes terror
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UN chief rebuffs Netanyahu’s claim that he stokes terror

Ban Ki-moon’s aide says international body’s leader stands by comments that ‘Palestinian frustration’ drives violence

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefs the Security Council during a meeting on the situation in the 'Middle East and Palestine,' January 26, 2016, at the UN in New York. (AFP/United Nations/UN Photo/Loey Felipe)
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefs the Security Council during a meeting on the situation in the 'Middle East and Palestine,' January 26, 2016, at the UN in New York. (AFP/United Nations/UN Photo/Loey Felipe)

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday rejected Israeli claims that his comments about “Palestinian frustration” stoke terrorism, his spokesman said, adding that Ban believes “nothing, absolutely nothing, can justify terrorism.”

Ban sparked Israeli outrage Tuesday with his comments about the terror attacks of the past four months, in which more than 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 had told the UN Security Council, adding: “Palestinian frustration is growing under the weight of a half century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process.” He said that it was “human nature to react to occupation.”

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

Palestinians and Israelis must understand that “the status quo is untenable,” he added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday accused the United Nations chief of “stoking terror.”

“There is no justification for terrorism,” Netanyahu said. “The Palestinian terrorists don’t want to build a state; they want to destroy a state, and they say that proudly. They want to murder Jews everywhere and they state that proudly. They don’t murder for peace and they don’t murder for human rights.”

The UN has “lost its neutrality and its moral force, and these statements by the Secretary-General do nothing to improve its situation,” he said in a furious video statement. Ban’s remarks, said Netanyahu, “stoke terror.”

In response to Ban, Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely said the UN chief’s comments “harm the global fight against terror, that Israel is leading, and gives legitimacy to those murderers to continue attacking.”

Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid also rushed to denounce Ban’s remarks.

“Terrorism against innocent civilians can not be justified. No one should provide excuses for it, especially not the UN Secretary-General. Terrorism against innocent civilians is the result of nothing except the murderous insanity of the perpetrators,” he said.

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