Antonio Guterres, UN secretary-general, has lashed out at Israel's illegal settlement activity, calling it a "major obstacle" to achieving a two-state solution and peace with the Palestinians.
"There is no plan B to the two-state solution," he said on Tuesday after meeting Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
"A two-state solution, end to occupation, creating conditions to end the suffering of the Palestinian people are the only way to guarantee that peace is established," Guterres added.
His remarks came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to never uproot any settlements from the West Bank - just days after a White House envoy was in the region trying to restart peace talks with the Palestinians.