UNITED NATIONS
Ban held his end-of-year news conference at UN Headquarters in New York on Wednesday and said that the Middle East peace process was in a "deep freeze," with the two sides – Israelis and Palestinians – seemingly more polarized than ever, and a two-State solution farther away than at any time since the Oslo process on the matter began in 1993.
"I am deeply concerned by heightened settlement activity in the West Bank, in particular around Jerusalem. This gravely threatens efforts to establish a viable Palestinian state," he said. "I call on Israel to refrain from continuing on this dangerous path, which will undermine the prospects a resumption of dialogue and a peaceful future for Palestinians and Israelis alike – let us get the peace process back on track before it is too late," Ban said.
On the issue of Syria, he said he had deep concern over the increasing militarization of the conflict and the potential for atrocities being committed along sectarian lines.
Ban said, "Neighbouring countries face a huge financial burden in sheltering and caring for them (Syrians). I call on the international community to respond generously and urgently to the humanitarian appeal launched today in Geneva."
The UN chief noted that he was considering convening an international donor conference, in close coordination with key partners, early next year.
He also urged the international community to unite firmly behind the Joint Special Representative of the United Nations and the League of Arab States for Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, who has been engaged in mediation efforts to find a "peaceful, political solution that brings democratic change while preserving the fabric of Syrian society and the peaceful coexistence of its communities."
