The United Nations political affairs chief Thursday voiced concern over the continuing deadlock in peace talks aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and urged both parities to make bold and decisive steps to end the stalemate and to avoid violence and provocative actions that could undermine political efforts.

"Both parties should be concerned that the political track is falling behind the significant progress being made by the Palestinian Authority in its state-building agenda," said B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, in a briefing to the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East.

"The international community is rightly concerned at the protracted stalemate in the peace process. We stress the importance of supporting and empowering the leadership of [Palestinian) President [Mahmoud] Abbas and Prime Minister [Salam] Fayyad, and of bringing the parties back to the table," he said.

"Far-reaching rather than incremental steps should be taken by Israel to lead to progress on the ground, by rolling back measures of occupation to match the Palestinian Authority's achievements," he added.

Mr. Pascoe pointed out that in its report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) meeting in Brussels on 13 April, the UN made clear its assessment that in the six areas where it is most engaged with the Palestinian Authority, governmental functions are now sufficient for a viable government of a State. In parallel, Israeli measures to facilitate movement have also supported economic activity and access to basic services, he added.

But he voiced concern that the Palestinian Authority has not able to extend its State-building work to Gaza due to the ongoing Palestinian political divide.

He said that the latest reporting period saw the highest level of violence in Gaza and Israel since Operation Cast Lead took place more than two years ago.

Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas, fired 111 mortar shells and 155 rockets while Israel conducted six incursions and 57 air strikes into Gaza since the last briefing to the Security Council. One Israeli child was killed and two civilians were injured by Palestinian rocket fire. Some 19 Palestinian militants and 15 civilians were killed, while 17 militants and 60 civilians were injured, as a result of Israeli military actions.

"We are alarmed at actions of Hamas to escalate violence, endangering civilians on both sides and risking a deeper confrontation with Israel," said Mr. Pascoe. "The Secretary-General strongly condemns rocket fire from Gaza and calls for it to end. He also reiterates his calls for maximum restraint by Israel. All parties must fully respect international humanitarian law. In the interest of the civilian populations on both sides, we call on the parties to uphold and solidify the prevailing fragile calm," he said.