United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon made the latest accusations at a UN Security Council meeting and his plea was simple: Israel and Palestine must try harder to achieve lasting peace.
"Some say the two sides are entrenched in their respective positions. I say we must not succumb to passivity, resignation or hopelessness, that the comprehensive resolution of the country is not achievable."
The UN Secretary-General had harsh words for both sides, calling out both states for inflammatory actions, including Israel's ongoing efforts to expand Jewish settlements in the disputed West Bank.
"Continued settlement activities are an affront to the Palestinian people and to the international community. They rightly raise fundamental questions about Israel's commitment to a two-state solution. These provocative acts are bound to increase the growth of settler populations, further heighten tensions and undermine any prospects for a political road ahead."
Palestine's UN delegate, Riyad Mansour, went even further, describing Israel's settlement campaign as the main hurdle on the path to peace.
"We are all aware that the Israeli settlement enterprise, in all its manifestation, is the most formidable obstacle to the peace we seek. Therefore, it has to be removed from its path if we seriously want to open doors for a meaningful process."
There has been a surge in violence between Palestinians and Israelis since the start of October 2015.
Around 150 Palestinians and 25 Israelis have been killed in stabbings, shootings and drive-by attacks.
Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, slammed the Security Council's response to the surge of aggressive incidents.
"Not once were the lives of Israelis murdered by terrorists recognized by the Council. No condemnation, no expression of solidarity, not even a statement of concern. The facts don't lie. The Security Council has been hypocritical when it comes to Israel."
He says the blame for the failure of peace talks, which collapsed in April 2014, lies with the Palestinians.
"Every difficult journey begins with a single step. Sitting down and talking is the first step to peace, but the Palestinians refuse to come to the table."
Ban Ki-moon's remarks have angered Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who accuses Mr Ban of exacerbating a dangerously tense situation.
"The words of the Secretary General only bolster terrorism. There is no justification for terrorism, period (full stop). The Palestinian murderers do not want to build a state, they want to destroy a state and they declare publicly. They want to murder Jews wherever they are and they say so publicly. They are not killing for the cause of peace, they are not killing to aid human rights. The UN has long ago lost its neutrality and its moral powers and these words by the Secretary General do not improve the situation."
