Islamic Jihad has low expectations for UN chief visit

Islamic Jihad has low expectations of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's visit to the region, Jihad leader Ahmad al-Mudalal said Tuesday. Al-Mudalal told Ma'an: "We don't count too much on the United Nations - it was one of the key contributors in the tragedy of our people for over 60 years." The UN has failed to stop Israel's theft of Palestinian land, killings of Palestinians, illegal settlement building and "Judaization" of Jerusalem, al-Mudalal said. Ban is scheduled to meet President Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and Foreign Minister Riyad-al Malki in the West Bank on Wednesday. On Thursday, he will meet Israeli officials and visit Gaza. Al-Mudalal said Ban was visiting the region at Washington's request to pressure the PLO to resume negotiations with Israel, al-Mudalal said. The Jihad leader accused the UN chief of being silent over the plight of Palestinian political prisoners, noting that Ban frequently demanded the release of Gilad Shalit during the Israeli soldier's captivity in Gaza. "I am surprised at Ban Ki-moon's silence over the suffering of detainee Sheikh Khader Adnan who is losing his life in prison," al-Mudalal said. Adnan, an Islamic Jihad leader, has been on hunger strike for 46 days in protest over his treatment by Israeli prison authorities and his detention without charge.