(VOVworld) - UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Monday slammed Israeli settlement building in the West Bank, condemned "provocations" at Jerusalem's holy sites, and urged Israel and the Palestinians to revive a stagnant peace process.

Israeli police officers clashed with Palestinian men and women in the Old City of Jerusalem on Monday.

Ban’s remarks came hours after Israeli police clashed with Palestinian protesters in Jerusalem. He expressed his concern over repeated provocations at the holy sites in Jerusalem, saying these only inflame tensions and must stop.

At a Monday reception for Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, UN chief Ban reiterated that a peace deal between Israel and Palestine is the only way to assure Palestinian’s rights and security.

Britain’s House of Commons voted in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state, as proposed by an opposition MP.

Britain’s House of Commons voted in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state

Lawmakers voted by 274 to 12 to pass a non-binding motion stating that “this House believes that the Government should recognize the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution”.