01/07/2016 (Agence Europe) -Quartet makes new recommendations to save two-state solution. On Friday 1 July, the Quartet (EU, United States, Russia and UN) published its new report containing recommendations to breathe new life into the peace process in the Middle East. Expressing concern at the fact that a two-state solution appears increasingly unlikely, it calls on the Israeli government to put an end to the “policy of expansion and colony-building, designating land for the exclusive use of Israel and the obstacles to Palestinian development”. Israel, they add, should also grant more responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority to manage “zone C” in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority is called upon to reinforce its institutions and to act more decisively to put a stop to incitement to violence and to fight terrorism. “All parties” must respect the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. The continued absence of Palestinian unity and the disastrous humanitarian situation in Gaza are also listed as factors making the conflict run on. (JK)