Middle East
The following statement was issued on December 15, 2008 by the Middle East Quartet (United Nations, European Union, Russian Federation, and the United States):
Representatives of the Quartet—U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union Javier Solana, European Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner—endorsed the following statement on the situation in the Middle East. They were joined by Quartet Representative Tony Blair.
The
Quartet reaffirmed support for the bilateral, comprehensive, direct,
uninterrupted, confidential and ongoing Israeli-Palestinian negotiations and
commended Israel and the Palestinians for their continuous efforts to conclude a
peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues without exception, as stated by
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni
during their November 9 briefing in Sharm el-Sheikh. The Quartet expressed its
considered view that the bilateral negotiations process launched at Annapolis is
irreversible and that these negotiations should be intensified in order to put
an end to the conflict and to establish as soon as possible the state of
Palestine, living side by side in peace and security with Israel. The Quartet
affirmed that a final treaty and a lasting peace will be reached through
simultaneous and mutually re-enforcing efforts on three tracks: negotiations;
building the institutions of a Palestinian state—including facilitating economic
development through an improvement of conditions on the ground; and
implementation of the parties’ obligations under the Roadmap, as stated in the
Annapolis Joint Understanding.
Taking note of the resolutions adopted by the Arab League on November 26, the
Quartet re-iterated that a lasting solution to the situation in Gaza can only be
achieved through peaceful means. It reiterated its previous call for all
Palestinians to commit themselves to non-violence, recognition of Israel, and
acceptance of previous agreements and obligations. Restoring Palestinian unity
based on the commitments of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO)—the
legitimate and internationally recognized representative of the Palestinian
people—would be an important factor in this process.
The Quartet reiterated its support for the Egyptian-brokered calm that came into
effect on June 19, 2008, urged that it be respected and extended, and expressed
the hope that it would lead to improved security and humanitarian conditions for
Israelis and Palestinians alike, actions to alleviate humanitarian conditions,
and the restoration of normal civilian life in Gaza. In this regard, the Quartet
expressed concern that the Egyptian-brokered calm had been challenged, condemned
indiscriminate attacks on Israel, and called for an immediate cessation of
violence. The Quartet stated its acute concern regarding the recent increase in
the closures of crossingpoints in response to violence in Gaza, which have
limited the range and quantity of basic commodities, humanitarian supplies, and
PA and UNRWA currency needs available in Gaza, worsening the economic and
humanitarian situation on the ground. The Quartet emphasized that the provision
of humanitarian supplies, including food, fuel, pharmaceuticals, water and
sewage maintenance items, and to the people in Gaza must be assured
continuously. The Quartet also reiterated its previous call for Israel to allow
into Gaza sufficient materials to facilitate the resumption of stalled UN and
other donor projects and expressed its support for the efforts of the Secretary
General and Quartet Representative Blair in this regard. The Quartet called for
the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit.
The Quartet called on all States to demonstrate their support for the Annapolis
process and their commitment to the two-state solution by contributing to an
environment conducive to an end to the conflict. In this regard, it noted that
lasting peace can only be based on an enduring commitment to freedom, security,
justice, dignity, respect and mutual recognition, the propagation of a culture
of peace and nonviolence and the confrontation of terrorism and incitement, and
the two-state solution, building upon previous agreements and obligations.
Responding to the request of the parties, international donors have pledged at
the Paris conference unprecedented levels of support for the success of
Annapolis, providing an essential element of stability as the process unfolded.
The Quartet further called on all states and international organizations to
continue to provide economic assistance in a spirit of equitable burden-sharing
to the legitimate Palestinian government, which accepts the Quartet principles,
in the areas of security reform, institution and capacity building, economic
development and through the fulfillment of pledges. The Quartet called for a
redoubling of support for Palestinian efforts to develop a sustainable economy
that promotes growth, employs its people, and integrates into the global
economic system. Significant improvements of access and movement and security
are indispensable in that context.
The Quartet commended the Palestinian Authority for its progress in security
performance and welcomed the robust Israeli-Palestinian cooperation for the
expansion of security and law and order in the West Bank, most notably in Jenin
and Hebron. The Quartet viewed the successful deployment of the Palestinian
security services to Hebron as the most recent demonstration of the substantial
progress that has been made since Annapolis.
Reminding the parties of their renewed commitment at Annapolis to implement
their Roadmap obligations, the Quartet called on the Palestinians to continue
their efforts to reform the security services and dismantle the infrastructure
of terrorism. The Quartet also called on Israel to freeze all settlement
activities, which have a negative impact on the negotiating environment and on
Palestinian economic recovery, and to address the growing threat of settler
extremism. The Quartet urged further progress on the ground in the period ahead
in fulfillment of the package of measures of Quartet Representative Blair.
The Quartet offered its support for an intensification of diplomatic efforts
toward peaceful co-existence among all states in the region and a just, lasting,
and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on United Nations Security
Council Resolutions 242, 338, 1397, 1402 and 1515. In this context, the Quartet
welcomed efforts to reinvigorate the Arab Peace Initiative, as part of a
comprehensive approach for the resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and
looked forward to an intensification of Israeli-Syrian negotiations. The Quartet
supported, in consultation with the parties, an international meeting in Moscow
in 2009.
US State Department Media Note 2008/1053
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
December 15, 2008