Quartet statement – the current situation in Gaza is unsustainable and in nobody's interest

On the sidelines of a meeting of the G-8 countries in Trieste, Italy, the Middle East Quartet (United Nations, European Union, Russian Federation, and the United States) — joined by Quartet Representative Tony Blair — met to review the situation in the region, and issued a statement on Friday that reflected the somewhat tougher tone being taken by the Obama administration (a freeze of all settlement activity — but not a roll-back beyond 2001, and an early resumption of negotiations without preconditions), combined with some long-held EU positions (unilateral actions will not be recognized by the international community).

The Quartet was formed at American invitation to help implement U.S. President George W. Bush’s “vision” of an independent Palestinian State (“If we’re talking about a state, why don’t we call it a state?”, Bush reportedly said at a meeting of his advisers in 2002, during global protests at Israel’s repression, particularly its re-invasion of West Bank cities, duringthe second Palestinian intifada.

It was also the Quartet which adopted and promoted the three-phase Road Map which was originally supposed to lead to a Palestinian state with provisional borders and a seat in the United Nations by the end of 2003, and a solution of all outstanding issues by 2005 – and which all parties are still called on to support now.

[One of the diplomatic peculiarities in recent years has been that the EU actually has three representatives in these Quartet meetings: High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of the European Union (Javier Solana), European Commissioner for External Relations (Benita Ferrero-Waldner), and the representative of the current EU Presidency Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout]

It was the first meeting of the Quartet since Barack Obama was inaugurated as U.S. President on 20 January — just hours after Israel and Hamas each implemented unilateral cease-fires following the IDF’s Operation Cast Lead in Gaza.

The Quartet said that “the establishment of a state of Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza in which the Palestinian people can determine their own destiny is in the fundamental interests of the international community“.

And in one of its strongest statements to date, the Quartet said that the current situation in Gaza is “unsustainable” — and in nobody’s interest.

In its statement, The Quartet “underscored that the only viable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one that ends the occupation that began in 1967 and fulfills the aspirations of both parties for independent homelands through two states for two peoples, Israel and an independent, contiguous, and viable state of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security”.

The Quartet suggested, diplomatically, that it somehow (through rose-colored glasses) has seen the “commitment of Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas to the two-state solution”.

And the members of the Quartet said they were determined “to actively and vigorously seek a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of UN Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 1397, 1515, 1850, the Madrid principles including land for peace, the Roadmap, and the agreements previously reached between the parties” — presumably including whatever agreements were reached in bilateral and more-or-less secret Annapolis process of negotiations under U.S. monitoring.

The statement said that “The U.S. briefed the Quartet on its intensive, ongoing discussions with all parties in the region to create the conditions for the prompt resumption and early conclusion of negotiations to resolve all permanent status issues, without preconditions. The Quartet affirmed that these negotiations must result in an end to all claims“.

The Quartet “urged the government of Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth; to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001; and to refrain from provocative actions in East Jerusalem, including home demolition and evictions“. It “called on Israel and the Palestinians to implement their obligations under the Roadmap and affirmed that unilateral actions taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community“.

The Quartet said that they had “discussed Gaza and agreed that the current situation is unsustainable and not in the interests of any of those concerned. The Quartet expressed serious concern at the humanitarian and human rights situation of the civilian population. It reiterated the urgency of reaching a durable solution through the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1860. The Quartet called for the unimpeded provision and distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including food, fuel, and medical treatment. The Quartet called for a complete halt to all violence, as well as an intensification of efforts to prevent illicit trafficking in arms and ammunition into Gaza and for a sustained reopening of all crossings points to ensure regular flow of people and humanitarian and commercial goods. The Quartet offered its support in this regard for the proposals of the United Nations to resume early recovery construction activities in Gaza. The Quartet called on those holding the abducted Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit to release him without delay”.

The Quartet also expressed its desire for Palestinian divisions to be overcome, and Palestinian unity to be “restored — based on the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) commitments”.

And the Quartet “appealed to all states in the region to play a constructive role in supporting the [Palestinian] reconciliation process”. In addition, the Quartet statement “underscored the importance of fostering peaceful coexistence throughout the region through the conclusion of peace agreements between Israel and Syria and Israel and Lebanon, in a manner that is mutually reinforcing with efforts to establish the state of Palestine, and through the full normalization of relations between all states based on the Arab Peace Initiative”. The Quartet also “called on Arab states to take steps to recognize Israel’s rightful place in the region; to affirm that violence cannot achieve regional peace and security; and to assist the Palestinian people in building their future state through consistent support for the Palestinian Authority” [in other words, to chip in and pay up].