Eyal Press on settlement business in the West Bank.
Ban-Ki Moon in the New York Times.
Ban-ki Moon is Secretary General of the United Nations:
"I
will always stand up to those who challenge Israel’s right to exist,
just as I will always defend the right of Palestinians to have a state
of their own. That is why I am so concerned that we are reaching a point
of no return for the two-state solution. And I am disturbed by
statements from senior members of Israel’s government that the aim
should be abandoned altogether.
"The stalemate carries grave risks for both sides: a continuation of the deadly wave of terrorism and killings; the collapse of the Palestinian Authority; greater isolation of and international pressure on Israel; and a corrosion of the moral foundation of Israeli and Palestinian societies, ever more inured to the pain of the other.
"The stalemate carries grave risks for both sides: a continuation of the deadly wave of terrorism and killings; the collapse of the Palestinian Authority; greater isolation of and international pressure on Israel; and a corrosion of the moral foundation of Israeli and Palestinian societies, ever more inured to the pain of the other.
"Criticism
of the United Nations — or attacks against me — comes with the
territory. But when heartfelt concerns about shortsighted or morally
damaging policies emanate from so many sources, including Israel’s
closest friends, it cannot be sustainable to keep lashing out at every
well-intentioned critic.
"Everyone
is free to pick and choose what they like or dislike from speeches. But
the time has come for Israelis, Palestinians and the international
community to read the writing on the wall: The status quo is untenable.
Keeping another people under indefinite occupation undermines the
security and the future of both Israelis and Palestinians."