October 20, 2026 09:03 am (IST)
Follow us:
Ban urges Israelis, Palestinians to resume negotiations
New York, May 13 (IBNS): Continued inaction in the Middle East peace process could lead to further instability in the region, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned on Monday at an international meeting in Turkey, reiterating his calls on Israelis and Palestinians to avoid unilateral steps that would aggravate the situation and diminish prospects for negotiations to resume.
In a message delivered by Robert Serry, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Ban told the parties that “not making a choice in favour of peace and co-existence within the two-State framework is the most detrimental choice of all.”
Ban’s message was presented in Ankara, Turkey, at an international meeting on the Question of Jerusalem, a topic which “is perhaps the most divisive of the core issues,” he said.
The two-day meeting was convened jointly by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Government of Turkey. It is being held in the context of the 2014 International Year of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The Secretary-General noted in his message to the meeting that he was “particularly troubled” by recent mounting tensions around the sensitive issue of Jerusalem and access to its holy sites, including in and around the Haram Al-Sharif/Temple Mount.
“Jerusalem inspires faith and longing for Muslims, Jews and Christians,” he said, adding that the city “must be open and accessible to all.”
He urged all sides to negotiate a solution where Jerusalem is the capital of the two States, and warned against “attempts to establish facts on the ground that alter the character of the Old City, or allow provocations that could trigger further unrest and deepen mistrust.”
Monday’s meeting comes two weeks after the target date for the latest United States-brokered talks between Israel and Palestine to reach a comprehensive peace agreement.
The talks had been ongoing since last August, resumed after the previous series of talks ended in September 2010 when Israel refused to extend its freeze on settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Ban on Monday reiterated that settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem “are illegal under international law” and “constitute a significant obstacle to achieving peace.”
He also warned that violence and attacks against civilians, including rocket fire from Gaza into Israel are “unacceptable.”
In Monday’s message, Ban underscored that the UN, with international support, remains committed to helping the parties bring “the occupation and this conflict and related claims to an end.”
Ban also expressed “profound concern” about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and lauded a USD 1.5 million pledge by the host Government of Turkey to address a shortage gap in medicines provided to people in the area by the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
(West Bank Israeli settlement of Har Gilo, located near Jerusalem. Photo: IRIN/Erica Silverman)
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
India–New Zealand free trade agreement takes effect on October 20
Mon, Oct 19 2026
Ecuador: Priest dies after giant crucifix falls on him during mass, video goes viral
Sun, Oct 18 2026
Planning a Bali trip? Fuel shortage triggers odd-even rule, Indian tourist shares nightmare
Sat, Oct 17 2026
Air France bans Pakistani pilots from Israel flights after security crackdown; United Airlines follows suit
Wed, Oct 14 2026
flydubai cockpit attack probe widens: Two Maldivian pilots detained in UAE over links to Omani co-pilot
Wed, Oct 14 2026