UN chief dreams of Israel-Palestinian peace

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UN Secretary-General António Guterres held talks with Israeli leaders Monday on his first visit since taking office, seeking to find ways to revive the peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. However, Israel seems to be more willing to talk about the Syria issue and urged the UN to fight against "anti-Israel discrimination."

"I dream that I will have the chance to see in the Holy Land two states able to live together in mutual recognition, but also in peace and security," Guterres said in remarks at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office to speak of his "dream" for peace.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) shakes hands with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres prior to a press conference at the prime minister's office in Jerusalem, August 28, 2017. /AFP Photo

However, analysts believed it is not the time for Guterres's dream to come true as both Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas are not in position to make any major concessions for now.

According to AFP, Netanyahu faces pressure from his right-wing base not to do so and to continue settlement building, and there is little incentive at the moment for him to change course.

As for Abbas, the 82-year-old Palestinian leader is unpopular and his Fatah party, based in the West Bank, continues to be divided from Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip.

Guterres is also scheduled to talk with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah on Tuesday and visit the besieged Gaza Strip on Wednesday, where the UN runs aid programs amid escalating humanitarian crisis.

Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas (R) and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) review an honor guard during an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Complex in Ankara, August 28, 2017. /AFP Photo

Palestinian President Abbas is visiting Turkey and is not expected to meet Guterres during the trip.

Israel lays interests in Syria and Iran

While Guterres spoke at length in his public comments on Monday on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Israeli leaders' interests lie elsewhere for now.

Netanyahu pressed Guterres on the UN peacekeeping force in neighboring Lebanon, known as UNIFIL, with Israeli officials having accused it of "blindness" to what they call an arms buildup by Hezbollah.

The trip comes as the UN Security Council debates renewing the force's mandate for a year, with a vote expected on Wednesday.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for a press conference with the UN Secretary-General at his office in Jerusalem on August 28, 2017. /AFP Photo

Guterres told Netanyahu: "I will do everything in my capacity to make sure that UNIFIL fully meets its mandate."

Netanyahu also spoke of what he sees as Israel's arch-rival Iran seeking to expand its presence in the Middle East, particularly in neighboring Syria.

He accused Iran of building sites to produce "precision-guided missiles" in both Syria and Lebanon.

"Iran is busy turning Syria into a base of military entrenchment and it wants to use Syria and Lebanon as war fronts (for) its declared goal to eradicate Israel," Netanyahu said.

Israel urges no 'anti-Israel discrimination'

Earlier in the day Guterres also met Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Rivlin emphasized more on calling the UN to take steps against the "anti-Israel discrimination" during the talk with Guterres.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (C) welcomes UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (R) upon his arrival at the presidential compound in Jerusalem, August 28, 2017. /AFP Photo

"This targeting of Israel, this singling out of the world's only Jewish state, and even actions and statements that threaten to destroy Israel are unacceptable and should come at a price," Rivlin told Guterres.

"No member state in the UN should be allowed to behave like that. These actions weaken cooperation between states and are against the rule of law," Rivlin added.

Guterres told Rivlin that during his tenure he will keep the UN convention and ensure Israel will be treated equally.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (L) shakes hand with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres prior to their meeting at the presidential compound in Jerusalem, August 28, 2017. /AFP Photo

Meanwhile, Guterre's visit comes amidst tension between Israel and the UN.

Israel was outraged by a resolution taken by the UN cultural agency UNESCO that, according to Israel, did not acknowledge the Jewish ties to Jerusalem.

Source(s): AFP ,Xinhua News Agency