Brussels, 22/09/2010 (Agence Europe) - The Quartet for the Middle East, which brings together the US, Russia, the EU and the UN, made an appeal on Tuesday to Israel to extend the moratorium on settlements in the West Bank, which expires on 26 September and which would risk putting a halt to the direct negotiations launched at the beginning of September. The Palestinians and the Arab League are making this into a perquisite.
The Quartet once again expressed its “firm support” for resuming peace negotiations in which it sees an opportunity to find a definitive solution in the next 12 months. It points out that the result will be based on the 1967 borders and the solution of making Palestine a “viable and democratic state”, which guarantees security, peace and good neighbourhood practices for all. This also applies to Israel and all neighbouring countries.
The Quartet calls on the two parties to refrain from any provocation or inflammatory ideas and reiterates its commitment to ensuring the application of the ongoing negotiations' conclusions. The most important thing, however, appears to be the appeal to the Israeli government to extend its moratorium on the settlements, noting that this “laudable moratorium (set up last November) has already had a positive impact”. The Quartet also warns against any “unilateral action”, such as on “settlement activity (which) cannot influence the result of the negotiations and which will not be recognised by the international community”.
In its declaration, the Quartet highlights its positions that had already been affirmed in favour of peace being extended to the whole region, including Syria. It also reaffirms its commitment to helping Palestinians prepare for the management of an independent state and to ensuring that it is a viable state. (F.B./transl.fl)