UN chief pledges support for Gaza

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MAGURA: Sudden onrush of water from GK canal is inundating fields of such crops as wheat, mustard and pulse, in Gazaria beel in Sreepur. — Banglar Chokh

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon has pledged continued backing for Gazans living under a blockade, during a visit to reinvigorate the peace process, reports BBC.
He told Gazans that "we stand with you" as he visited a neighbourhood damaged by the Israeli offensive 14 months ago.
His visit to the region comes amid tension over Israel's plans to build more settlements in East Jerusalem.
Building materials are restricted under the blockade by Israel and Egypt, preventing rebuilding.
Israel imposed a tightened blockade after the Islamist Hamas movement seized power in June 2007.
Speaking in Gaza, Mr Ban said families were living under "unacceptable, unsustainable conditions".
Mr Ban said it was "distressing" for him to see damage to housing remaining, with no reconstruction possible under the blockade.
The blockade has prevented the UN from completing housing projects, but Mr Ban pledged to continue providing aid to Gazans,
"My message to people of Gaza is this: the United Nations will stand with you through this ordeal," he said.
Among a list of criticisms of Israel's policy, Mr Ban said the blockade was counter-productive as it prevented legitimate commerce and encouraged smuggling and extremism.
Mr Ban urged all Gazans to "choose the path of non-violence, Palestinian unity and international legitimacy".
He also called for a prisoner exchange involving Palestinian prisoners and Israeli soldier Gilat Shilad who was captured by militants in 2006.
His two-day visit is aimed at restarting the peace process, and comes just ahead of a visit by US special representative George Mitchell on Sunday to try to get indirect talks going between the Israelis and Palestinians.
An Internet report says: Israeli will neither change policies that have been upheld by its various governments since 1967 nor halt construction in Jerusalem, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stressed at Sunday's cabinet meeting.
"We will clarify that building in Jerusalem is like building in Tel Aviv," Netanyahu said. A final-status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, he said, could only be reached at the conclusion of direct talks in which the two sides "sit together and sort the issues out." The prime minister said that the planned proximity talks - indirect negotiations with US mediation - would enable the two sides to individually state their case, but would not facilitate an enduring peace process.
Netanyahu said his position would remain unflagging during his visit to Washington later on Sunday, and that he would clarify that to the Obama administration.