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Benjamin Netanyahu

TEL AVIV. — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday accused the UN chief of “encouraging terror” after Ban Ki-moon spoke of Palestinian frustration at Israel’s occupation and said it was natural to resist.

“The comments of the UN Secretary General encourage terror,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

“There is no justification for terror.”

Earlier, Ban told the UN Security Council of the “profound sense of alienation and despair driving some Palestinians — especially young people” in the upsurge of attacks on Israelis since the start of October.

“Palestinian frustration is growing under the weight of a half century of occupation and the paralysis of the peace process,” he said.

“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.”

Violence since October 1 has killed 159 Palestinians and 25 Israelis, as well as an American and an Eritrean, according to an AFP count. — AFP.