UN Chief Welcomes New Palestinian Government
(Times of Israel / Worthy News)– The United Nations on Tuesday welcomed the new Palestinian unity government and said it was ready to lend its full support in efforts to reunite the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, a spokesman said. The announcement followed statements by the US and the EU Monday that they would recognize the new leadership in Ramallah, much to Israel's chagrin.
The spokesman for Secretary General Ban Ki-moon made the remarks after UN special envoy Robert Serry held talks with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah.
"The United Nations has long underscored the need for progress towards Palestinian unity," Ban's spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
"The United Nations stands ready to lend its full support to the newly formed government in its effort to reunite the West Bank and Gaza… under one legitimate Palestinian authority," he added.
That issue, "the serious political, security, humanitarian and economic challenges in Gaza, and holding long overdue elections" were discussed by Serry and Hamdallah, the spokesman said.