United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that after a new Israeli government is sworn in, he will investigate whether there are "realistic options" for a return to peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clinched a deal to form a new government on Wednesday just before a deadline to do so expired, but his coalition will rule by the slimmest of majorities in Israel's turbulent parliament. "Once a new government has been sworn in, the Secretary-General will explore with Prime Minister Netanyahu realistic options for a return to meaningful negotiations on a two-state solution," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. He also said Ban was "deeply concerned" by recent announcements that Israel was moving ahead with the construction of 900 housing units in the east Jerusalem neighborhood Ramat Shlomo. The project had received earlier approval in 2013, and this week it passed through a Jerusalem district planning committee, the activist group Peace Now said.
Credit: Reuters
