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Quartet delegation to visit Palestine next week: official

Xinhua, December 1, 2015 Adjust font size:

A high-ranking delegation representing the International Quartet for Mideast Peace is scheduled to visit the Palestinian territories next week, a senior Palestinian official announced Tuesday.

Saeb Erekat, Secretary General of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), told "Voice of Palestine" Radio that the European Union envoy Fernando Gentilini informed him in a meeting held on Monday in Jericho in the West Bank.

The visit of the Quartet delegation was scheduled for Oct. 11, according to Israel Radio, and the visit was postponed upon an Israeli request. The Quartet comprises the United States, Russia, Europe and the United Nations.

"The Quartet delegation will first meet with President Mahmoud Abbas," said Erekat, adding that "the delegation is to meet with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu although he announced earlier that he suspended meeting with EU officials."

Erekat slammed Netanyahu, saying that "his (Netanyahu) remarks are useless and not serious, it is only to blackmail."

Asked if there is a new initiative over ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Erekat told the Radio that "so far, there are no new serious initiatives."

"During his talks with U.S. Secretary John Kerry, Netanyahu didn't give and clue or hope to resume the peace process, but insisted in keeping his policy of field murder against the Palestinians and expanding his settlements."

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians had stopped last year due to deep differences on settlement and the recognition of the Palestinian state. Endit