Palestine: Committed to Two States

In a letter for International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon writes that the U.N. is committed to working towards a two-state solution.  Ban voiced his concern over the stalled negotiations, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the importance of resolving the Jerusalem issue through negotiations.   He called for a Palestinian unification and pledged U.N. pressure for previous Security Council resolutions.

The NY Times reports that Israeli has made its first arrests against settlers as part of a settlement freeze issued by PM Benjamin Netanyahu, the freeze is designed to prohibit new housing construction for 10 months in an attempt to resume peace negotiations. Lastly, President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to visit top Lebanese officials on Monday to discuss the right of return, rejection of naturalization and the civil and social rights of Palestinian refugees.