U.N Secretary General António Guterres in a released statement underlined that the 1967 Six-Day war “resulted in Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza and the Syrian Golan and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and Syrians.” He lamented Israel’s “occupation has imposed a heavy humanitarian and development burden on the Palestinian people” and its “perpetuation” makes Palestinian aspiration of statehood to remain a “dream” while Israel’s “desire for peace, security and regional recognition remains unattainable.”
The Six-Day War had immensely affected Israel’s relationship with the Arab World as well as increase the amount of territory under the control of the Jewish State. Speaking at a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the war, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel’s seeks “a real peace” with its neighbors; “a peace that will last generations” but Israel will continue to “maintain security control over all the territory west of the Jordan (river)” with or without an agreement.
Secretary General António Guterres highlighted that the “occupation” has compelled generations of Palestinians to live as refugees in abject poverty which has “fuelled recurring cycles of violence and retribution.” He said that an end to the occupation and reaching a two-state agreement in direct negotiations “on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, agreements and international law” could end the 50 year old situation and described it as “the only way to lay the foundations for enduring peace” that would answer the desires of the two parties.
Netanyahu stressed that “the foundation for peace” is for the Palestinians to “recognize Israel as the national home of the Jewish people” as he pointed out that their “refusal is what prevents achieving it.”
Guterres recalled that Israel was founded on 14 May 1948 and the world still awaits the advent of an independent Palestinian state.
