Six-Day War anniversary: UN chief calls for two-state solution, blasts Israel's 'occupation'

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for ending of Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories since 1967 and urged the international community for negotiating a two-state solution to resolve the conflict between the two Middle Eastern neighbours.

"Ending the occupation that began in 1967 and achieving a negotiated two-state outcome is the only way to lay the foundations for enduring peace that meets Israeli security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty," Xinhua quoted Guterres statement released on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the start of the Arab-Israeli Six Day War.

Guterres said, "Today marks 50 years since the start of the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, which resulted in Israel's occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza and the Syrian Golan and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and Syrians."

Guterres said resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will remove a driver of violent extremism and terrorism in the Middle East and open the doors to cooperation, security, prosperity and human rights for all.

He called on both sides to return to direct negotiations to resolve all final status issues on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, agreements and international law.

"This occupation has imposed a heavy humanitarian and development burden on the Palestinian people. Among them are generation after generation of Palestinians who have been compelled to grow-up and live in ever more crowded refugee camps, many in abject poverty, and with little or no prospect of a better life for their children," he charged.

The "occupation", claimed Guterres, "has fuelled recurring cycles of violence and retribution. Its perpetuation is sending an unmistakable message to generations of Palestinians that their dream of statehood is destined to remain just that, a dream; and to Israelis that their desire for peace, security and regional recognition remains unattainable."

On May 2, both Palestine and Israel has agreed to reactivate the joint economic committee and expand its power in the West Bank, a Palestinian government spokesperson said.

Yousef Al-Mahmoud, the Palestinian government spokesperson said in a press release that the agreement was signed in a rare meeting between Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and the Israeli minister of finance Moshe Kahlon in Ramallah.