(JNS) In a rare moment of agreement, the United Nations Security Council called on Tuesday, June 27 for all parties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to “refrain from unilateral actions that further inflame tensions.”

Tor Wennesland, the U.N. special representative for the Middle East peace process, told council members during Tuesday’s session that the last two weeks “have been terrible” and that he was “gravely concerned by the escalating spiral of violence.”

He also chastised Israel for what he deemed to be the “relentless expansion of Israeli settlements,” which, he said, “fuels violence.”

Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., countered that Israeli building permits in Yehuda and the Shomron “are not an impediment to peace, and the building will not stop. Constructing homes in existing communities across Judea and Samaria is not an inflammatory step.”

Robert Wood, the U.S. representative at Tuesday’s session, said he understood the reasons for pessimism surrounding the possibilities for peace after witnessing the events of the last two weeks.

“The violence of the past week must serve as a call for action for all of us in this council to redouble our efforts toward peace,” said Wood. “The United States will continue to work with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to promote steps aimed at lowering tensions and restoring trust, which can create the conditions to bring the parties back to the table.”