amazigharifi
26-06-2009, 19:45
Quartet urges settlement freeze
Ban called on Israeli authorities to stop settlements including natural growth [AFP]
The international Quartet on Middle East peace has called on Israel to halt Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories and open border crossings as a first step to advance peace.
The Quartet, comprised of the European Union, Russia, the United States and the United Nations, made the appeal on Friday in the northeastern Italian city of Trieste.
The group is holding the meeting in an attempt to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, said: "We are urging Israeli authorities to stop settlements including natural growth and remove all these blocks and open the crossings.
"This will be the first beginning to make sure all our proposals are implemented."
'Favourable atmosphere'
Ban said the Middle East peace sponsors were looking for "meaningful signs of progress in the coming few months" and reiterated their support for an international peace conference to be held in Moscow this year.
In depth
Q&A: Jewish settlements
Analysis: Limiting a Palestinian state
Riz Khan: The battle over Israeli settlements
Riz Khan: The future of US-Israeli relations
Inside Story: Roads and obstacles to peace
Inside Story: US and Israel poles apart
"We are trying very hard to seize on the very favourable political atmosphere" following Barack Obama's, the US president, speech in Cairo earlier this month.
In the speech, Obama pledged to pursue a broad-based, comprehensive peace agreement in the Middle East.
On Thursday, the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas's political bureau refused to recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
At the same time, Khaled Meshaal endorsed the idea of a two-state solution, accepting the creation of a Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The comments came in an address to supporters in Damascus, the Syrian capital.
bron
Ban called on Israeli authorities to stop settlements including natural growth [AFP]
The international Quartet on Middle East peace has called on Israel to halt Jewish settlements in the Palestinian territories and open border crossings as a first step to advance peace.
The Quartet, comprised of the European Union, Russia, the United States and the United Nations, made the appeal on Friday in the northeastern Italian city of Trieste.
The group is holding the meeting in an attempt to restart the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, said: "We are urging Israeli authorities to stop settlements including natural growth and remove all these blocks and open the crossings.
"This will be the first beginning to make sure all our proposals are implemented."
'Favourable atmosphere'
Ban said the Middle East peace sponsors were looking for "meaningful signs of progress in the coming few months" and reiterated their support for an international peace conference to be held in Moscow this year.
In depth
Q&A: Jewish settlements
Analysis: Limiting a Palestinian state
Riz Khan: The battle over Israeli settlements
Riz Khan: The future of US-Israeli relations
Inside Story: Roads and obstacles to peace
Inside Story: US and Israel poles apart
"We are trying very hard to seize on the very favourable political atmosphere" following Barack Obama's, the US president, speech in Cairo earlier this month.
In the speech, Obama pledged to pursue a broad-based, comprehensive peace agreement in the Middle East.
On Thursday, the leader of the Palestinian group Hamas's political bureau refused to recognise Israel as a Jewish state.
At the same time, Khaled Meshaal endorsed the idea of a two-state solution, accepting the creation of a Palestinian state within 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The comments came in an address to supporters in Damascus, the Syrian capital.
bron