UN chief urges Israel, Palestinians to prevent further escalation

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged Israel and the Palestinians to act swiftly in order to prevent a "downward spiral" after three weeks of ongoing violence.

Ban arrived in Israel on Tuesday in a surprise visit, signaling the international community's growing concern as no end is in sight for the current wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, which some dub as a third Palestinian intifada (armed uprising).

Two previous uprisings, perceived by millions of Palestinians as resistance to Israel's 50-year occupation of east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza Strip territories, took place in the late 80s and early 2000s.

The current wave of violence, in the form of lone wolf attacks by Palestinians against Israelis in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza strip, has claimed the lives of 10 Israelis and more than 40 Palestinians.

"Israel and the Palestinians must make difficult decisions in order to reach peace," Ban said during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prior to a meeting between the two in Jerusalem on Tuesday evening.

The secretary-general, who will also meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordanian King Abdullah II in the next couple of days, expressed his sympathies with Israeli victims and their families, but warned of an Israeli response that would ignite further tensions.

Israel recently relaxed measures to attain weapon license amid the growing violence on Israel's streets.

Ban called on Israel to investigate any claims of improper use of force and refrain from steps that may further ignite tensions and raise fears and anger among more than 2.5 million Palestinians living in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

He referred to a slew of measures Israeli authorities deployed to fight the wave of violence, including, among others, erecting concrete stabs in Palestinian villages in east Jerusalem and setting up checkpoints in their entrances, as well as demolishing homes of militants.

Ban stressed the urgent need for diplomatic prospects and renewing negotiations between Israeli and the Palestinians, warning that unilateral actions on behalf of both parties "would lead to a downward spiral."

"We must prevent a deterioration of the situation, we need to create the conditions for negotiations that would end the occupation," the UN official said. "The only way to end this conflict is through negotiations that would bring about substantial results."

In his opening statements, Netanyahu continued to slam Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for incitement that escalates the violence.

Netanyahu also rebuked claims that construction in the Jewish settlements in east Jerusalem and the West Banks, on lands slated to be part of the future Palestinian state, has to do with the current wave of violence.

On Tuesday morning, Netanyahu presented figures showing that during his recent tenure, the average rate of housing units built in the settlements was 1,500 a year, less than his center-left predecessors did.

The prime minister, who recently said he is willing to resume talks with Abbas, said he is looking forward to working with Ban in order to put an end to the unrest.

Netanyahu will depart to Germany on Wednesday noon for a two-day visit, in which he is set to meet with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on ways to restore the calm. Endit