UN chief defends Mideast briefing to Security Council critical of Israel and terrorism

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hopes his recent opinion piece in the New York Times -- "Don't Shoot the Messenger, Israel" -- "motivates the international community ... to find a path forward to a two-state solution," said his spokesman on Monday in defense of the article.

"He hopes this will open up a very frank conversation and a frank debate and that people actually see the realities on the ground and we hope this motivates the international community to act in concert and find a path forward to a two state solution," said the spokesman, Stephan Dujarric.

The "op-ed" piece, positioned opposite the tradition editorials, was published in the Times' Sunday editions.

When asked why Ban wrote an article in stronger language than usual, Dujarric replied, "yes, stronger, but more importantly clearer. I think the reason for the op-ed was really motivated by a sense that his words in the Security Council were misinterpreted, were twisted, people were picking and choosing. I think that through this op-ed, I don't think the secretary-general could be any clearer as to his position."

Ban briefed the council on the Middle East last week, resulting in criticism from Israel.

In the op-ed piece, the secretary-general said, "I pointed out a simple truth: History proves that people will always resist occupation."

"Some sought to shoot the messenger -- twisting my words into a misguided justification for violence," Ban's article said. "The stabbings, vehicle rammings and other attacks by Palestinians targeting Israeli civilians are reprehensible. So, too, are the incitement of violence and the glorification of killers. Nothing excuses terrorism. I condemn it categorically."

"As I warned the Security Council last week, Palestinian frustration and grievances are growing under the weight of nearly a half-century of occupation," he said. "Ignoring this won't make it disappear. No one can deny that the everyday reality of occupation provokes anger and despair, which are major drivers of violence and extremism and undermine any hope of a negotiated two-state solution."

"Israeli settlements keep expanding," Ban continued. "The government has approved plans for over 150 new homes in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Last month, 370 acres in the West Bank were declared 'state land,' a status that typically leads to exclusive Israeli settler use."

"Along with the United States, the European Union and the Russian Federation, the United Nations is calling for substantial changes in policy to strengthen the economic, institutional and security pillars of the Palestinian Authority," the Secretary-General said, referring to members of the Middle East Quarter.

"We are engaging with Arab countries in the region to harness the support that both sides need to bring peace and security to Israelis and Palestinians alike," he said.

In Monday's exchange with reporters, Dujarric said, "Everyone is free to pick and chose from what they like or dislike from his (Ban's) speeches or editorials but -- now quoting from Ban's concluding paragraph in the op-ed piece -- "The time has come for Israelis, Palestinians, and the international community to read the writing on the wall, the status quo is untenable. Keeping another people under indefinite occupation undermines the future of both Israelis and Palestinians." Enditem