Mideast Quartet not to urge resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks

The Mideast Quartet will not call for the resumption of talks between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, chief negotiator for the Palestinian Administration Saeb Erekat said in an interview with Al-Ayyam newspaper. "There will be nothing concrete on the resumption of negotiations, but they [the ministers] will seek a basis for the resumption of dialogue under [U.S.] President [Barack] Obama's speech, and then begin a debate on this issue," Erekat said. The United States does not support the PNA's desire to address the UN with the recognition of Palestinian independence. A head of the Fatah delegation visiting Moscow, Nabil Shaath, reiterated on Tuesday the PNA's desire to address the UN for recognition of Palestinian independence. The Palestinian Authority will hail any decision by the Mideast Quartet that would help resume Israeli-Palestinian talks, Shaath said. The Mideast Quartet consists of Russia, the United Nations, the European Union and the United States. The agenda of the talks will include the dispute between Fatah and Hamas over the formation of the unity government for the Palestinians and the resumption of direct peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. The Palestinians want to form an independent state within the 1967 borders before Israel occupied the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem. Israel wants Jerusalem to be its "eternal and undivided" capital.