UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday met with Israeli President Shimon Peres and called on Israeli and the Palestinian governments to overcome “deep skepticism” to reach a peace deal. Ban said the two sides should ignore doubt, which has been existing over the past 20 years and maintain a constructive environment for peace process.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon  (Photo: AFP)

He also called on both countries to refrain from acts that would endanger the continuation of renewed peace negotiations. On Thursday, Ban met with Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas and voiced his concern about an Israeli plan to build illegal Jewish settlement. He said that the Israeli move will erode Palestinians’ trust of a peace agreement. Ban also held talks with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Justice Minister and chief negotiator Tzipi Livni, and Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon.