Roundup: Quartet report angers Palestinian officials

The recent report of the International Quartet for peace in the Middle East on evaluating the conflict between the Palestinians and Israel has on Saturday angered the Palestinians, who said the report equals the victim with flagellant.

"The Quartet report doesn't meet the aspirations and hopes of the Palestinians as a people, who live under a military colonial occupation," Ahmed Majdalani, a member in Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee, said in an emailed press statement.

The Quartet comprises the United Nations, the United States, European Union and Russia. It released the first report of its kind on Friday, which analyzed the impediments to a lasting resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The Quartet report offered recommendations on the way forward, urging Israel to stop its settlement policy and Palestine to end incitement to violence.

Majdalani stressed that the report unveils the double-standard of the Quartet committee towards the conflict, adding that the report equaled between the occupying power and the people who live and suffer under the occupation.

"The world insists not to bear any moral and legal responsibility towards implementing the international laws and treaties to protect the Palestinian people and guarantee their right for self-determination," he said, adding "the report is just like backing the continuation of the occupation."

The Quartet has been working on the report since February. The report calls on each side to "independently demonstrate, through policies and actions, a genuine commitment to the two-state solution" and to "refrain from unilateral steps that prejudice the outcome of the final negotiations."

In summary, the Quartet reiterated that a negotiated two-state outcome is the only way to achieve an enduring peace that meets Israeli security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, ends the occupation that began in 1967, and resolves all permanent status issues.

"The report ignored the Israeli government's responsibility for obstructing the process of economy and social development. Besides its responsibility of undermining the establishments of the Palestinian (National) Authority and its fanatic policies which aim at blowing up the situation," said Majdalani.

The report provides recommendations to what it has identified as the major threats to achieving a negotiated peace: continued violence, terrorist attacks against civilians and incitement to violence; settlement construction and expansion; and the PNA's lack of control in Gaza.

"We are shocked after the Quartet's report held the Palestinians responsible for incitement and violence and didn't refer to the violence and organized state terrorism of the occupation army and its armed settlers who commit daily crimes against innocent civilians of our people," said Majdalani.

The Palestinians want to resume the Middle East peace process that is based on the two-state solution, implement the signed agreements committed to the peace references in accordance to a specific time schedule, including the cessation of settlements and the release of the prisoners.

However, the report recommended that both sides should work to de-escalate tensions by exercising restraint and refraining from provocative actions and rhetoric.

It also recommended that the PNA should act decisively and take all steps within its capacity to cease incitement to violence and strengthen ongoing efforts to combat terrorism, including by clearly condemning all acts of terrorism.

Meanwhile, it recommended that Israel should cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion, designating land for exclusive Israeli use, and denying Palestinian development.

It called on Israel to implement positive and significant policy shifts, including transferring powers and responsibilities in Area C, consistent with the transition to greater Palestinian civil authority contemplated by prior agreements.

Progress in the areas of housing, water, energy, communications, agriculture, and natural resources, along with significantly easing Palestinian movement restrictions, can be made while respecting Israel's legitimate security needs.

The Palestinian leadership should continue their efforts to strengthen institutions, improve governance, and develop a sustainable economy. Israel should take all necessary steps to enable this process, in line with the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee recommendations, said the report.

It called on all sides to respect the ceasefire in Gaza, and the illicit arms buildup and militant activities must be terminated.

Nabil Abu Rdineh, spokesman of the PNA presidency, said in an official press statement that "any report, which doesn't include a complete withdrawal back to 1967 borders, including the occupied city of Jerusalem and doesn't include the illegalization of settlements would never lead to real and everlasting peace."

"If the report doesn't include these stable demands, more tension and more instability is expected in the region," said Abu Rdineh, adding "the only solution is to establish an independent Palestinian state with east Jerusalem as its capital and the release of all prisoners from Israeli jails." Endit