UN will continue to advocate for 2-state solution on Israel-Palestine issue: Spokesperson

TORONTO

The UN will continue to advocate for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in all their contacts, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Wednesday.

Dujarric answered journalists' questions at a daily press conference, where he was asked about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's presenting of a map of “a new Middle East” during his speech last week at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York in which Palestine is not visible on its borders.

"We can't control nor do we wish to control what member states say or what they display at the podium," he said.

He said the map does not reflect the stance of the UN, "but we are continuing to advocate for a two-state solution in all our contacts.”

Saying he could not yet confirm whether a letter from the Palestinian permanent representation condemning Netanyahu's action had reached the UN Secretary-General, Dujarric stressed that such actions did not change the UN's stance.

Asked by a journalist whether Israel supports the two-state solution, he said: "I do not speak for the prime minister of Israel. You should ask them what they believe in.”