Ban welcomes ceasefire, calls for speedy resolution of ME conflict

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached earlier in the day between Israel and the Palestinian factions, and urged the international community to speedily find a solution to the conflict in all its aspects. Addressing the Security Council via video conference from the region where he is on a mediation mission, Ban said "I warmly welcome today's ceasefire announcement. I commend the parties for stepping back from the brink. I commend President (Mohamed) Morsi for his exceptional leadership. Our focus now must be on ensuring that the ceasefire holds." Ban noted that the ceasefire needs now to be followed immediately by negotiations on the underlying issues. "That is the sequence that can save lives now." "I consistently condemn indiscriminate rocket fire from Gaza into Israel," he stressed. "I also believe at the same time that the excessive and disproportionate use of force (by Israel) that endanger civilian lives is intolerable," he added. "It is unacceptable for citizens of both sides to permanently live in fear of the next strike. Put simply, all parties must respect international humanitarian law to insure the protection of all civilians at all times," he added. He said both parties have fundamental concerns about the status quo, which is "unsustainable," and expressed the UN readiness to facilitate all efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict. "A long-time solution must be found to problems of Gaza and for the Palestinians as a whole," he stressed. Once the violence ends, he added, "a broader ceasefire will have to address all the underlying causes of the conflict, including the full opening of the crossings, Palestinian reconciliation and an end to weapons smuggling." He urged the international community to speak with "one voice to prevent a return to violence." "Peace must remain our ultimate and our priority goal. A negotiated two-state solution ending a prolonged occupation ... is more urgent than ever, " he said, adding that "achieving this vision is long overdue."