Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon: World Likud.

Israel’s top UN diplomat, Danny Danon, strongly criticized UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon following comments he made at the Security Council on Monday.

“The Secretary General encourages terror instead of fighting against terror,” Danon said, according to a press release by Israel’s mission to the UN. “The Secretary General forgot what the UN’s role is – terror must not be encouraged for any reason whatsoever.”

Danon was responding to Ban’s remarks on what he called “unacceptable levels of violence” affecting Israel and the Palestinian territories.

Danon’s comments echoed those of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who also accused the secretary general of providing a justification for terrorism against Israelis.

“Security measures alone will not stop the violence,” said Ban. “They cannot address the profound sense of alienation and despair driving some Palestinians – especially young people. The full force of the law must be brought to bear on all those committing crimes – with a system of justice applied equally for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Palestinian frustration is growing under the weight of a half century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process. Some have taken me to task for pointing out this indisputable truth. Yet, as oppressed peoples have demonstrated throughout the ages, it is human nature to react to occupation, which often serves as a potent incubator of hate and extremism.”

Ban also said he was troubled by Israeli policy, particularly in Judea and Samaria (West Bank), that “increase the growth of settler populations, further heighten tensions and undermine any prospects for a political road ahead.”