I am very pleased to be here in Israel and to meet Foreign Minister Livni again.

I come at a very difficult time for Israel. I come with heavy heart. I come on a mission of peace.

I am well aware that rockets have been fired at Israeli civilians for years from Gaza.

I have always condemned these rockets as acts of terrorism. They have no justification and they must cease.

But I must also be concerned at the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Many people have died and are still dying.

Civilian suffering has reached an unbearable point.

That is why I have urged an immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire.

This is what Security Council resolution 1860 calls for.

The rockets must stop. And Israel's offensive must end.

All violence must cease, and the bloodshed and suffering among the civilian populations must be halted.

Clearly a return to the status quo ante can be no option. If a ceasefire is to be sustainable, we need arrangements to ensure a halt to the resupply of weapons to Gaza militants, the reopening of the crossings, the release of Corporal Shalit, and that Gaza is reunited with the West Bank under one legitimate Palestinian authority.

I also discussed with the Foreign Minister the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The people of Gaza are facing a dire humanitarian crisis. This is a fact.

We are working closely with the Israeli authorities to alleviate the crisis as much as possible.

I am truly proud of the UN staff braving difficult and dangerous circumstances to help those in need, and I appreciate the Israeli Government's measures to establish a humanitarian operations centre and to provide the necessary humanitarian assistance. I do hope, and I told the Foreign Minister, that this measure should continue.

Today, the UN compound in Gaza has been shelled again. I conveyed my strong protest and outrage to the Defense Minister and to the Foreign Minister, and demanded a full explanation. I had a telephone call with Defence Minister before I began my meeting with the Foreign Minister. Defence Minister Barak said to me that it was a grave mistake and that he took it very seriously. He assured me that extra attention would be paid to the UN facilities and staff and that this should not be repeated.

I believe from my talks in Egypt that the elements are in place for this violence to end now.

The time has come for the violence to stop and for us to change fundamentally the dynamics in Gaza, and to pursue again the peace talks for a two State solution, which is the only road to lasting security for Israel.

We don't have any more time to lose. We must end civilian suffering now.

I count on the wise leadership of the Israeli Government.

I want to thank Foreign Minister Livni again for welcoming me to Israel and I look forward to the remainder of my visit.

Thank you very much.