Foreign ministry calls quartet to hold Israel responsible for negotiations deadlock

The Foreign Ministry in a statement Wednesday called on the Quartet to take a decisive position to hold Israel responsible for the deadlock in negotiations and the ongoing settlement activities. “In clear disregard of the Quartet’s efforts to renew peace talks, the Israeli government is escalating settlements construction in the occupied Palestinian Territory, and continues to Judaize East Jerusalem,” said the statement. The ministry stressed that the Israeli government’s continuation of settlement activities and confiscation of Palestinian land daily “leads to the destruction of the two-state solution, and ruins all chances to launch the peace process and resume negotiations.” The statement also urged the US and European Union state members to take a decisive position regarding the Israeli settlement activities, recognize a Palestinian state, and support the Palestinian statehood application to the United Nations, which “will result in serious negotiations.” The ministry condemned the Israeli ongoing settlement activities, referring to the recent Israeli decision to build 4000 housing units in East Jerusalem in stark violation of international resolutions. The Quartet will start separate meetings with Palestinian and Israeli officials on Wednesday, in a new approach to resuming negotiations by requiring both sides to submit detailed proposals on borders and security within three months.