Israel And Palestinians Agree To Offer Peace Proposals
New York, Oct 26 2011 7:10PM
The United Nations and its
diplomatic partners in the search for peace in the Middle
East met separately today with Israeli and Palestinian
officials in Jerusalem, with both sides agreeing to come
forward with comprehensive proposals on territory and
security within three months.
The so-called Quartet, comprising the UN, the European Union, Russia and the United States, were following up on a strategy they launched last month to bring the two sides together again following the breakdown in bilateral talks last year, barely weeks after they had started again.
Those efforts involve a series of steps and a timetable with the aim of reaching a lasting Middle East peace agreement by the end of next year, with today's separate meetings being the first phase to agree on the agenda and method for negotiations.
"Both parties
expressed their readiness to engage with the Quartet, on the
basis of its statement of 23 September, to overcome the
current obstacles and resume direct bilateral negotiations
without delay or preconditions," the Quartet envoys said in
a news release after the meetings, which were also attended
by Quartet Representative Tony Blair, the former United
Kingdom prime minister.
"The parties agreed with the
Quartet to come forward with comprehensive proposals on
territory and security within three months in the context of
our shared commitment to the objective of direct
negotiations leading toward an agreement by the end of
2012."
The Quartet reiterated its call to the parties
to refrain from provocative actions if negotiations are to
be effective and agreed with the parties to meet regularly
for the next 90 days to review progress.
The Quartet has for years been championing the so-called Roadmap, the internationally approved plan for a two-State solution in which Israel and the Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security.
Israel has called on the Palestinians
to resume bilateral talks without conditions but Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says he will not return to
the table until Israel freezes all settlement activity in
occupied Palestinian territory.
Oct 26 2011
7:10PM
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