Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations
By Yu Zhongwen
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (R)
shakes hands with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni before their
meeting in Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Nov. 9, 2008.
Abbas and Livni held closed-door talks here on the sidelines of the Middle
East Quartet Principals Meeting Sunday. (Xinhua Photo)
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SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The
Palestinians and Israel promised on Sunday to carry on the peace negotiations
that resumed a year ago at a U.S.-hosted Mideast conference, although a deal is
not likely to be reached by the end of this year as expected.
The promise was made by the two sides in a statement
issued after a meeting of the international Quartet held in the Egyptian Red Sea
resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The Palestinians and Israel reaffirmed their
commitment to "vigorous, ongoing and continuous negotiations in order to
conclude a peace treaty resolving all outstanding issues," said the statement.
According to the statement, the two sides called on
the international Quartet and the international community to continue their
support to the peace negotiations that achieved few tangible results in the past
year.
During the meeting, Palestinian President Mahmoud
Abbas and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni briefed the Quartet developments
of the Palestinian-Israeli talks.
"President Abbas and Minister Livni ... requested
continued support from the Quartet and all members of the international
community," said the statement.
The international Quartet, which groups the United
States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, evaluated
developments of the Mideast peace process, particularly peace negotiations
between the Palestinians and Israel.
At the U.S.-hosted Annapolis conference on Mideast
peace last November, Palestinian and Israeli leaders pledged to try to reach a
peace agreement by the end of 2008.
As time went on, the U.S. administration admitted
that it's unlikely for the two sides to reach a deal by the year's end.
On Thursday, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said
"we do not think that it's likely" when asked if there is any possibility for
Israel and the Palestinian National Authority to reach a peace agreement before
the end of the year.
Perino's remarks came as U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice arrived in Israel at the start of a four-leg Middle East trip,
trying to push Israel and the Palestinians to adopt the outlines of a peace
deal.
Rice arrived in the Egyptian Red Sea resort on
Saturday to take part in the Quartet meeting, which was also attended by UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, European
Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Quartet envoy Tony Blair.
In the statement, the Quartet reiterated its
commitment to supporting the Palestinian-Israeli talks, calling on the two sides
to continue their talks.
The Quartet emphasized in the statement the
importance of continuity of the peace process.
"Without minimizing the gaps and obstacles that
remain, the representatives of the parties shared their assessment that the
present negotiations are substantial and promising," the statement said, adding
"they have succeeded in putting in place a solid negotiation structure for
continued progress in the future."
The Quartet called on the parties concerned to assist
in the development of Palestinian economy and "contribute to the Palestinian
institution-building program in preparation for statehood."
It also calls for a suspension of Israel's settlement
activities in disputed lands and dismantling "the infrastructure of terrorism."
As for further international efforts on the
Palestinian-Israeli talks, the Quartet said it could be an appropriate time to
hold an international meeting in Moscow in the spring of 2009.
Int'l Quartet meeting kicks off in
Egypt's Red Sea resort
SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- The meeting of
the international Quartet opened Sunday morning in Egyptian Red Sea resort of
Sharm el-Sheikh on the Mideast peace process.
The international Quartet, which groups the United
States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, will evaluate
development of the Mideast peace process, particularly peace negotiations
between the Palestinians and Israel. Full story
