Ban Ki-Moon, the secretary-general of the United Nations, spoke out against the murder of the three kidnapped Israeli boys on Tuesday, July 1.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Ki-Moon condemned the murders, saying there is “no justification for the deliberate killing of civilians.”
Like President Obama, Ki-Moon said he hopes “Israeli and Palestinian Authorities will work together to bring the perpetrators swiftly to justice,” and that he also “extends his deepest sympathy to the families of the victims.”
Calling those responsible for the abduction and murders “enemies of peace,” the UN secretary-general did not place the blame on anyone or any group, instead saying that the goal of the perpetrators was to be divisive and create distrust, thereby causing the conflict to widen.
Unlike both U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and even President Barack Obama, Ki-Moon declined to include any personalizing of the tragedy. Both Kerry and Obama mentioned their ability to empathize with the families because both are fathers.
As with both the U.S president and secretary of state, the head of the U.N. included an exhortation for “all parties” to “refrain from any actions” that could further make the current tense situation even worse.
Too late.
Israel can sit on its hands and not do its best to root out the center core of the terrorist leadership, in which case other terrorists will be emboldened by the lack of consequences. Or, Israel can act on its desire to root out the terrorism (as it has done by targeting terror sites in Gaza), in which case the world will condemn the Jewish State for contributing to the “cycle of violence.”
Here is the statement issued on behalf of the UN secretary-general:
The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the murder of the three Israeli teenagers abducted on 12 June in the West Bank. There can be no justification for the deliberate killing of civilians. He hopes Israeli and Palestinian authorities will work together to bring the perpetrators swiftly to justice, and extends his deepest sympathy to the families of the victims.
The Secretary-General believes this heinous act by enemies of peace aims to further entrench division and distrust and to widen the conflict. It must not be allowed to succeed. He calls on all parties to abide by their obligations under international law and to refrain from any actions that could further escalate this highly tense situation.