Mid-East Quartet calls for Israel to work with Jordan to ‘uphold status quo’ at holy sites

The international Middle East Quartet has expressed its “grave concern over the continuing escalation of tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.” Encouraging Israel to work together with Jordan “to uphold the status quo at the holy sites in Jerusalem in both word and practice”, the group placed special recognition on the “special role” that the Hashemite Kingdom has, in accordance with its peace treaty with Israel.

In a statement issued in Vienna on Friday, the Quartet also condemned “all acts of terror and violence against civilians” and reiterated the call for “maximum restraint and avoidance of provocative rhetoric and actions.”

Referring to its previous statements and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, in recognition “that security measures alone cannot stop the cycle of violence”, the Quartet called for “significant steps to be taken… in order to restore confidence and hope in the viability of a negotiated two-state solution that resolves the final status issues, including that of Jerusalem, and ends the occupation that began in 1967.”

The Quartet — Russia, the US, EU and UN — reaffirmed its “strong commitment to act in coordination with regional and international stakeholders in an effort to stabilise the situation and to assure and actively support a just, comprehensive and lasting settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

The statement pointed out that Quartet envoys are going to travel to the region to work closely with the parties to encourage them to take “concrete actions” regarding a solution to the conflict.