UN official: Sec-Gen may visit Israel this year

President Shimon Peres was told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hoped to visit the region in the coming year.

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon hoped to visit the region in the coming year, President Shimon Peres was told Wednesday, by United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process Robert H. Serry, as the two met for a working session at Beit Hanassi.
The two discussed the humanitarian needs of the people in Gaza, with Serry interested in learning what could be done to ease the passage of goods into district.
Serry highlighted the lack of materials coming through legitimate crossings for economic recovery and reconstruction for the civilian population.
Peres said he was not entirely satisfied that such materials are being used solely for restoration purposes. He was convinced that Hamas was using them to build more smuggling tunnels, and said that Israel would not endanger the security of her citizens by allowing Hamas, which is a terror organization, and an agent of Iran, to have the means to carry out its policy of murder and destruction.
Before leaving, Serry expressed appreciation for Israel’s enormouscontribution toward saving lives in Haiti, and said that what Israelhad done in Haiti served to strengthen the positive relationshipbetween Israel and the UN.