PRETORIA, May 10, 2007, (WAFA)- United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Wednesday for ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory and achieving the two-state solution.

In his message during the the United Nations African meeting on the question of Palestine opened in Pretoria, Ki-moom said the United Nations would continue to actively support international efforts aimed at bringing an end to the occupation, and achieving a two-State solution.

"A viable and independent Palestine and a safe and secure Israel would not only be a blessing for the two peoples, but would also help promote peace and stability in the wider region," he said in the statement was delivered by Tuliameni Kalomoh, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs.

He encouraged Israel to cease settlement activity and the construction of the wall to ease Palestinian movement and release Palestinian revenues. The UN Secretary-General also asked Israel to show progress on the release of Palestinian prisoners, and ensure that its military operations did not endanger civilians.

He revealed that he had been encouraged by recent international and regional efforts to get the long-stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace talks back on track, and outlined a series of steps the parties themselves could take to "demonstrate a true commitment to peace".

Ki-moon said that the Palestinians should work towards the immediate release of the abducted BBC journalist, Alan Johnston, and of the Israeli soldier being held captive.

Samih Al-Abed, Minister of Public Works of the Palestinian National Authority, said that the international community must redouble its efforts at this critical time to promote the realization of the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security.

"Too much time has passed and it is long overdue: the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land must be brought to an end and the Palestinian people must have their freedom," he said.

There was a window of opportunity, he said, noting that multiple efforts were being exerted by several parties, including the League of Arab States, the new Palestinian National Unity Government, and the members of the Quartet, aimed at reviving the peace process.

"Yet, while everyone else talks of peace, Israel continues its colonization campaign aimed at sustaining its 40 years of occupation of the Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, continues its military assaults on the Palestinian civilian population, and continues its collective punishment of the Palestinian people as a whole," he said.

Chairman of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, Paul Badji, said that the meeting was being held amid broad international and regional efforts to relaunch the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

He described the grim and worsening conditions in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, stressing that it was absolutely essential that concrete negotiations be taken up in earnest.

"Only a two-State solution, including the return of all Palestinian lands and refugees, would lead to a fair and sustainable solution," he said. Essop Pahad, Minister in the Office of President Thabo Mbeki, said that South Africa firmly believes in the Palestinian peoples' inalienable right to self-determination and the fact that there was no military solution to the conflict.

Mr. Pahad urged the international community to give unconditional recognition to and engage in dialogue with the newly established Palestinian Unity Government, support the 2002 Arab peace Initiative -- recently reaffirmed by Arab leaders in Riyadh -- lift all restrictions on that Government, and take appropriate action to address the dire humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people.

Mr. Badji, Chairman of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, stressed that the momentum in the peace process was being threatened by the grave security and humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

He asserted that Israel continued, almost daily, to carry out its military activities in the West Bank, including targeted assassinations, demolitions, closures and curfews.

The past few weeks had seen an intensification of those activities, all of which deepened the Palestinian people's despair and often triggered retaliation. "Indiscriminately targeting civilians, whether by Israeli aircrafts, tanks or artillery or by Palestinian rocket fire is a violation of international law and has to be stopped," he said.

S.A.S. (14:23 P) (11:23 GMT)