Ban alarmed at Israel's announced seizure of West Bank land
| Publisher | UN News Service |
| Publication Date | 1 September 2014 |
| Cite as | UN News Service, Ban alarmed at Israel's announced seizure of West Bank land, 1 September 2014, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5405bb624.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced his alarm at the announcement by Israeli authorities to declare nearly 1,000 acres of land in Bethlehem as so-called "state land."
"The seizure of such a large swathe of land risks paving the way for further settlement activity, which - as the United Nations has reiterated on many occasions - is illegal under international law and runs totally counter to the pursuit of a two-State solution," Mr. Ban's spokesperson said in a statement.
The Secretary-General called on Israel to "heed the calls of the international community" to refrain from settlement activity and abide by its commitments under international law and the Quartet Road Map - the plan which calls for Israel and Palestine to live side by side in peace and within secure borders.
Senior UN officials, including Mr. Ban, have repeatedly urged both parties to exercise prudence and to avoid taking unilateral actions on the ground that would further diminish the chances of reaching a negotiated final peace agreement.
