"These provocative acts are bound to increase the growth of settler populations, further heighten tensions and undermine any prospects for a political road ahead," Ban stated. "I urge the Israeli government not to use a recent decision by the Israeli High Court affirming a large tract of land south of Bethlehem as state land to advance settlement activities."
The Security Council holds a debate on the Middle East every month. In the last debate on December 16, 2015, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs Miroslav Jenca said the world body continues to look to the Security Council for any guidance on creating new peace architecture to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
In the debate on Tuesday, Israeli Permanent Representative Danny Danon said, "Sitting down and talking is the first step to peace, but the Palestinians refuse to come to the table. What does Israel want? Simple. We want peace with security. That is the only peace that will last."
Ban, however, reminded the Security Council that to overcome the political impasse between Israelis and Palestinians, envoys from the Middle East Quartet — comprising the European Union, Russia, the United States and the United Nations — met Israeli and Palestinian officials on December 17, 2015.
"[The envoys] reiterated the urgent need for significant steps, in line with previous agreements, to strengthen Palestinian institutions, security and economic prospects while addressing Israel’s security concerns," Ban noted.
The Middle East Quartet had issued a statement two months earlier calling on the Palestinians and Israelis to take significant steps to restore confidence and hope in the viability of a negotiated two-state solution.
The two-state solution dates back to November 29, 1947, when the UN General Assembly recommended in Resolution 181 the creation of independent Arab and Jewish states.
