VIDEO: UN chief pushes Palestinians to calm spiralling unrest

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appealed for calm after weeks of deadly unrest during his visit to Jerusalem.

He told the Security Council that he was not optimistic following talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.

The UN chief traveled to Israel on Tuesday to urge the Israelis and Palestinians to pull back from a dangerous escalation that could lead to a full-scale Palestinian uprising.

He offered no public proposals to end the unrest but spoke of returning to meaningful negotiations after more than a year of frozen peace efforts.

Ban’s report from the region comes on the eve of a ministerial-level debate at the Security Council on the way forward in the Middle East amid fears that the violence could spiral out of control.

Can think of no more useless response to the escalating Israeli occupation and colonization of Palestine than a visit by Ban Ki-moon.

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) October 20, 2015

At least 47 Palestinians and one Arab Israeli have been killed in the upsurge in violence that began at the start of the month, including alleged attackers. Eight Israelis have died.

Dear Ban Ki-moon,
While you're in Jerusalem today, why not dress like an Israeli Jew and walk a mile in their shoes? pic.twitter.com/UzEiP9pbNG

— Hillel Neuer (@HillelNeuer) October 20, 2015