UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon said here Wednesday that "a true end to violence, and lasting security for both Palestinians and Israelis, will only come through a just and comprehensive settlement to the Arab-Israeli conflict."
"This effort must have at its centre the implementation of the Security Council resolutions and the framework of the Arab Peace Initiative," he said, referring to the peace roadmap which supports the establishment an independent Palestinian State to live in peace and security with neighboring Israel.
Ban, who just returned from his week-long visit to the Middle East to press for an early truce in Gaza, made the statements as he was briefing the 15-strong Security Council on his Middle East tour. The UN chief lost his voice from the intense diplomacy and asked UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Lynn Pascoe to speak to the Security Council on his behalf, and he was present at the open council meeting.
"We do not need new plans and processes," he said. "We have the tools we need. We need only political will and action. Peace has eluded us for far too long."