UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon rejected accusations from Israel that he was "giving terror a tailwind," reiterating on Wednesday that "nothing, absolutely nothing justifies terrorism."
Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at a press briefing that the UN chief stands behind his remarks at Tuesday's Security Council meeting on the Middle East Peace Process.
"He condemns the stabbings, vehicle attacks and shootings by Palestinians targeting Israeli civilians.
Again, nothing excuses terror," Dujarric said.
Dujarric reiterated Ban's statements that security measures alone will not be enough to put an end to the violence, "we must address the root causes - the underlying frustration and failure to achieve a political solution."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Ban's comments, saying that "The UN lost its neutrality and moral force a long time ago and the Secretary General's remarks do not improve the situation."
