UN’s Ban on Palestinian violence: It is ‘human nature’ to react to occupation

Ban Ki-moon says settlements are ‘affront to Palestinian people’ while Israel’s UN ambassador uses ‘terror dolls’ to prove Palestinian incitement.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon addresses a United Nations Security Council meeting on the Middle East at UN headqu… /Photo by Reuters

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon commented Tuesday on the recent wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, saying it was part of “human nature” to react to an occupation.

Addressing the UN Security Council’s periodic Middle East debate, Ban condemned rocket fire from militant groups in Gaza into Israel and called for an end to incitement, but said that “As oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation.”

Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon holds a doll he said was part of a shipment re… / Photo by Reuters

Ban urged both sides to act now “to prevent the two-state solution from slipping away forever,” adding that progress toward peace between requires that Israel freeze its settlement-building, which he called “an affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community.”

Dozens of people on both sides have died in four months of violence, which Israel blames on Palestinian incitement. Palestinians say the attacks stem from frustration at nearly five decades of Israeli military rule.

Israel’s UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, did not address settlement-building. He instead showed reporters what he called “terror dolls” that he said are used to teach hatred to Palestinian children.

Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour urged the council to act.