LONDON: The Mideast Quartet is “losing its grip” on the peace process and must radically revise its approach, a group of prominent aid agencies said yesterday ahead of a meeting of the four powers.
The lives of Palestinians have not improved and may have worsened since the Annapolis conference last November, the 21 agencies said as the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States prepared to meet in New York.
“The Annapolis process was meant to herald a new dawn for the Middle East peace process,” said Christian Aid Director Daleep Mukarji, referring to a process which aimed to forge a solution by the end of this year.
“Nearly one year on, we are seeing exponential settlement growth, additional checkpoints and — because of this — further economic stagnation. The Quartet is losing its grip on the Middle East peace process.” The Quartet is mediating the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. It is expected to meet today at the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss plans for bolstering the Annapolis process.
At US-sponsored talks in Annapolis, Maryland, last November, Israel and the Palestinians revived negotiations toward resolving core problems like the status of Jerusalem, the borders of a future Palestinian state and refugees.
The conference set the goal of a peace deal by the end of 2008, though that target is looking increasingly difficult to meet. The aid agencies said the Quartet has failed to hold Israel to account for expanding settlements in the West Bank and had little impact on boosting freedom of movement for Palestinians.
Moreover the “lack of progress on key goals” set by the Quartet called the group’s entire approach into question, said a new report from the coalition, which includes Oxfam, Save the Children, Christian Aid, CARE and CAFOD.
