New York, December 09 (Saba) - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon held Israel responsible for the current stalemate marring the Middle East peace process with the Palestinians. While regretting Israel's negligance to all international calls to extend its settlement restraint policy, Ban Ki-Moon urged Israel last night to comply with its Roadmap obligations to freeze all settlement activities in the Palestinian occupied land, including East Jerusalem, according to Qatar News Agency (QNA).

"The Secretary-General takes note with regret that Israel will not heed the united call of the international community, as reflected by the Quartet, to extend the settlement restraint policy. He reiterates his urging for Israel to fulfill its Roadmap obligation to freeze all settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem," his press office said in a statement.

"In spite of this setback, the Secretary-General believes it is more important than ever to promote a negotiated end-game for a two-State solution," the statement added.
It noted, however, that Ban is "encouraged that the United States has indicated its determination to continue its efforts in this direction and urges the full cooperation of the parties towards that end."

"He is looking forward to these matters being discussed in the days to come among all members of the Quartet," it stressed.

The Middle East Quartet, the UN, European Union, Russia and United States, is promoting the roadmap plan for two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Robert Serry called in the region yesterday for a "strategy adjustment" in the face of continued Israeli settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory, which he said is causing a "crisis of confidence" in Middle East peace efforts.

Meanwhile Israeli army minister Ehud Barak is expected here later today to meet with the UN secretary general and then proceeds to Washington to deliver his speech before the Saban political forum.

For her part, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton will also address the said forum and is expected to announce the coming steps the US administration adopts concerning the resumption of the Middle East peace process.

The US State Department spokesman Philip Crowley told reporters in Washington yesterday that the U.S. will send its Middle East envoy George Mitchell back to the Middle East next week for indirect talks toward a peace agreement
between Israeli and the Palestinian officials, ending a push to convince Israel to halt settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem which Palestinians consider the capital of their future state.

The settlement construction has been a major block in the resumption of the US-sponsored direct talks between the two sides. "We're looking for ways to create momentum," Crowley said. "We're adapting our approach, but we're not adapting our strategy. It is our belief at some point in this process the parties will have to return to negotiations."

After months of trying to persuade both parties to resume direct negotiations, the US finally realized that "a moratorium extension (of the settlement freeze) will not at this time form the best basis for negotiations."