Despite this grim picture, Mr. Annan underscored the importance of efforts to tackle the problem by achieving a two State solution. Members of the diplomatic Quartet – the UN, United States, European Union and Russian Federation – have been working with the parties on a road map to achieve a final settlement within three years. “With the intensified efforts of all of us, the day will come sooner rather than later, when the Palestinian people will be finally able to enjoy their inalienable rights, including the right to self-determination and to a sovereign State called Palestine,” he said.

Also addressing the meeting, General Assembly President Jan Kavan of the Czech Republic called for the prompt resumption of Israeli-Palestinian political negotiations. He noted that the international community has come out strongly against the extrajudicial assassinations of suspected Palestinian militants, and against terrorist acts of Palestinian extremists.

The anguish, frustration and anger of the Palestinians is understandable, the President said, but tactics of terror and suicide bombing are counterproductive. The recent terrorist attack in Mombasa “will be justifiably condemned the world over but the Palestinian cause will not be advanced a single inch forward – just the contrary,” he said.