Greeting the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Office of Political Affairs Oscar Fernandes on Monday, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad stressed the importance of the UN’s role in compelling Israel to abide by its roadmap obligations.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, there were on average 103 raids into West Bank areas each week in 2009. Peace Now numbers indicate a 20% increase in the number of West Bank settlers since 2003, when the roadmap plan was initiated. Phase I of that plan had an Israeli pullout from the West Bank and a halt to settlement construction.

At the government headquarters in Ramallah, Fayyad told Fernandes that the UN, as a global institution and a member of the Middle East Quartet, has the power demand and implement a halt to settlement construction and Israeli raids of the West Bank.

Fayyad said he considered the statements of the UN Secretary-General condemning in November calling for a return to negotiations and an end to settlement construction, alongside the statement of the EU foreign Ministers meeting supporting the UN call, as a basis for building an international position on the issue and forcing Israel's hand. Particularly within the framework of the Quartet, Fayyad said, these statements an have a serious impact.

The Prime Minister expressed his great appreciation for the United Nations’ role in the alleviation of suffering for the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip. "What we need above all," he said "is an end to the siege of Gaza, the opening of the crossingss and the freedom to begin the reconstruction process."

Fernandes assured Fayyad of the UN support for the plan of the 13th government to build state institutions in anticipation of the declaration of a state in 2011, as a mechanism to ensure the Palestinian people gain their freedom and independence.