UN chief calls for two-state solution for Israel, Palestine
(VOVWORLD) - UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday called for ending Israel's occupation since 1967 of Palestinian territory and achieving a negotiated two-state solution to resolve the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (Source: EPA/VNA) |
Monday marks 50 years since the start of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, which resulted in Israel's occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza and the Syrian Golan Heights. Guterres said that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will remove a driver of violent extremism and terrorism in the Middle East and open the door to cooperation, security, prosperity and human rights for all. He called on both sides to return to direct negotiations to resolve all issues on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, agreements and international law. At Monday’s ceremony marking 50 years since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will not cede the military control of the West Bank's Jordan valley in any future peace agreement with the Palestinians.