Israeli Ambassador Danon Hits Back at UN Chief for Calling Netanyahu Video 'Outrageous'

"The Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon hit back at UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Thursday for his criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a recent video in which Netanyahu said that Palestinians seek the 'ethnic cleansing' of Jews from the West Bank.

Ban had called Netanyahu's remarks disturbing, and his portrayal of 'those who oppose settlement expansion as supporters of ethnic cleansing' as 'outrageous and unacceptable.' The UN chief also reiterated the UN position that settlement expansion in the West Bank were an obstacle to peace.

Danon said Ban's remarks on the situation, in a speech before the UN Security Council, presented 'a distorted view of the situation.'

'The obstacle to peace starts and ends with Palestinian incitement to terrorism and [Palestinian Authority President] Mahmoud Abbas's refusal to meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu,' Danon said in a statement issued to the press.

'Instead of directly condemning Hamas and its building of terror tunnels, and instead of investing time and resources in ensuring that the Palestinians end their incitement, the secretary general chooses to condemn Israel on a regular basis.'..."