PA halts dealing with Quartet after damning report

The Palestinian Authority has decided to halt all dealing with the Middle East Quartet after it published a report criticising the Palestinian government and its commitment to the peace process, the Arabic newspaper Al-Hayat reported today.

The report, published on 1 July, sharply criticised Palestinian groups for glorifying individuals who carry out deadly attacks and called on Palestinian leaders to “cease incitement to violence”.

Mohammad Shtayyeh, a member of Fatah’s Central Committee, told Al-Hayat: “The report only discussed the goals, not the reasons. The first reason for the failure of the peace negotiations is the settlements that ruin the two-state solution.”

“Thus, if any party wants to reinvigorate peace talks, it must face the truth and suggest a way to talk about how and when the occupation will end.”

In its report, the Quartet also questioned Israel’s commitment to the two-state solution following its policy of increasing settlement construction. “This raises legitimate questions about Israel’s long-term intentions, which are compounded by the statements of some Israeli ministers that there should never be a Palestinian state,” the report said.

Among its strongest recommendations: “Israel should cease the policy of settlement construction and expansion, designating land for exclusive Israeli use, and denying Palestinian development.”