SECRETARY-GENERAL GRAVELY CONCERNED AT ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE IN ISRAEL
AND PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES; CALLS FOR URGENT RESUMPTION OF DIALOGUE
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:
The Secretary-General is gravely concerned at the further escalation of violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories.� He reiterates his condemnation of terrorism from whatever quarter.� At the same time, the Secretary-General remains strongly opposed to the excessive use of force by Israeli security forces.
The Secretary-General once again calls on both sides to exercise maximum restraint.� He is particularly distressed by the killing of young children and other civilians, which he condemns in the strongest possible terms.
The Secretary-General notes that both sides have, in the past weeks, expressed their willingness to implement the Sharm el-Sheikh understandings.� It is now urgent that they do so.� He regrets that continuing violence and increasingly harsh rhetoric on both sides have obscured some limited, positive steps taken by them before the violence of the last few days.� He calls for an urgent resumption of political dialogue, since only a political settlement between the two sides can ensure peace and security for both.
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