Israel hit out at the top UN humanitarian affairs official, John Holmes, on Monday suggesting he failed to clearly blame "terrorists" for attacks on the Jewish state.
The foreign ministry singled out a statement about a "circle of violence" between Israel and the Palestinians, which Holmes made during a visit on Sunday to the Israeli town of Sderot, which in recent months has come under near-daily rocket and mortar fire from militants in the Gaza Strip.
"The use of such expressions creates parallels between the terrorists and those protecting themselves from the terrorists," ministry director general Aharon Abramovich said after meeting Holmes on Monday.
"Holmes's words could unintentionally encourage terror bodies to believe that the international community will exert pressure on Israel rather than treat the roots of violence, and therefore they do not help the peace process," Abramovich said in a statement.
During his visit to Sderot, where many residents are pushing for Israeli military action against Gaza militants, Holmes stressed that "more violence will not bring peace to the people of Sderot". "There is no time to lose in putting an end to this vicious circle of violence," Holmes said. Holmes, UN under secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief co-ordinator, is on a five-day visit to the Palestinian territories and Israel that ends on Monday.