PLO officials urge diplomatic Middle East Quartet to adopt clear position on Israeli-Palestinian negotiations

Ma’an -- PLO official Hanan Ashrawi urged the Middle East Quartet on Tuesday to adopt clear positions on negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

“The failure of the Quartet to come up with a clear and decisive position on negotiations and the requirements of peace is a direct result of the refusal of its members to bring Israel to compliance with international law, including a cessation of all settlement activities and acceptance of the 1967 border,” Dr Ashrawi said in a statement Tuesday.

She also condemned the Quartet for its indecision and vague language.

"Of course there are gaps between Palestinians and Israelis: Israel is an occupying power that acts unilaterally and refuses to comply with international law.

"If there were no gaps between us, there would be no need for negotiations. Rather, the question is what is the position of the Quartet, and what is its plan for positive engagement?”

"The Quartet needs to articulate a position consistent with international law and to act on that position.”

“The Quartet’s inability to engage makes it more imperative to address the UN and its institutions and agencies directly,” Ashrawi concluded.

PLO official Nabil Shaath on Wednesday also commented on Quartet progress.

Russia played a major role in preventing a potentially damaging statement being released by the Middle East Quartet, he told Ma'an.

The Fatah commissioner for international relations said that the Quartet statement was set to ask the Palestinians to recognize Israel as a Jewish state and to cancel the September UN bid for statehood.

In return, 1967 borders were to be recognized as the starting point for negotiations.

“How can negotiations be resumed, while settlements are endeavoring our lands?” Shaath told Ma’an.

The US administration was calling for a Quartet statement which placed the emphasis on recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, he added.

Shaath commended Russia and the country's foreign minister Sergei Lavarov for their positive relationship with Palestine.

A recent Quartet meeting exposed significant gaps between Palestinian and Israeli expectations regarding terms for restarting the peace process.