This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8575723.stm
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| Quartet urges settlement freeze | Quartet urges settlement freeze |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The international Quartet of Middle East peace mediators has called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity. | The international Quartet of Middle East peace mediators has called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity. |
| Speaking for the Quartet, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned Israel's announcement of plans to build new homes in disputed East Jerusalem. | Speaking for the Quartet, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned Israel's announcement of plans to build new homes in disputed East Jerusalem. |
| The announcement has undermined US efforts to restart indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks. | The announcement has undermined US efforts to restart indirect Israeli-Palestinian talks. |
| Mr Ban met Quartet foreign ministers from the US, EU and Russia in Moscow. | Mr Ban met Quartet foreign ministers from the US, EU and Russia in Moscow. |
| "The Quartet urges the government of Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, dismantle outposts erected since March 2001 and to refrain from demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem," Mr Ban said. | "The Quartet urges the government of Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, dismantle outposts erected since March 2001 and to refrain from demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem," Mr Ban said. |
| Recalling that the annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognised by the international community, the Quartet... condemns the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem Ban Ki-moonUN Secretary General Jerusalem's tinder-box Israel-US: Bruised friendship Borders and settlements | Recalling that the annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognised by the international community, the Quartet... condemns the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem Ban Ki-moonUN Secretary General Jerusalem's tinder-box Israel-US: Bruised friendship Borders and settlements |
| He was meeting the foreign ministers of the US and Russia - Hillary Clinton and Sergei Lavrov - and the EU's new foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton. | He was meeting the foreign ministers of the US and Russia - Hillary Clinton and Sergei Lavrov - and the EU's new foreign policy chief Baroness Ashton. |
| In a strongly worded statement, the Quartet condemned Israel's announcement last week of planning permission for 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel since 1967. | In a strongly worded statement, the Quartet condemned Israel's announcement last week of planning permission for 1,600 new homes in East Jerusalem, occupied by Israel since 1967. |
| After the announcement, the Palestinians declared they could not begin US-brokered indirect, or "proximity", talks with the Israelis. | After the announcement, the Palestinians declared they could not begin US-brokered indirect, or "proximity", talks with the Israelis. |
| "Recalling that the annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognised by the international community, the Quartet underscores that the status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties, and condemns the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem," Mr Ban said. | "Recalling that the annexation of East Jerusalem is not recognised by the international community, the Quartet underscores that the status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties, and condemns the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem," Mr Ban said. |
| He stated the goal of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement - including a Palestinian state - within two years. | He stated the goal of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement - including a Palestinian state - within two years. |
| Protesters and Israeli forces clash in the West Bank | |
| Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat welcomed the Quartet statement and urged the creation of a "surveillance mechanism installed by the Quartet to make sure that Israel does effectively halt completely all settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem". | Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat welcomed the Quartet statement and urged the creation of a "surveillance mechanism installed by the Quartet to make sure that Israel does effectively halt completely all settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem". |
| The pressure is now on the Israelis to offer concessions that will convince the Palestinians to participate in talks, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow. | The pressure is now on the Israelis to offer concessions that will convince the Palestinians to participate in talks, says the BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow. |
| But Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the Quartet timetable was unrealistic and ignored "the last 16 years of Israeli attempts" at negotiating with the Palestinians. | But Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the Quartet timetable was unrealistic and ignored "the last 16 years of Israeli attempts" at negotiating with the Palestinians. |
| He said Israel had made many "significant gestures" and it was up to the Palestinians to "prove that they are really interested in negotiations". | He said Israel had made many "significant gestures" and it was up to the Palestinians to "prove that they are really interested in negotiations". |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told the BBC she hoped to see the resumption of indirect talks in the near future, eventually moving to direct talks. | |
| Asked whether she had taken a risk in escalating the tone with Israel, Mrs Clinton said she believed it was paying off as negotiations were back in the picture. | |
| She said it was up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring his coalition along with him on the issue, since he and his government had committed to the peace process. | |
| West Bank clashes | West Bank clashes |
| Events on Friday in the Middle East highlighted the difficulties the Quartet faces. | Events on Friday in the Middle East highlighted the difficulties the Quartet faces. |
| Palestinians in the West Bank town of Hebron threw stones at Israeli security forces, who fired tear gas in return. | Palestinians in the West Bank town of Hebron threw stones at Israeli security forces, who fired tear gas in return. |
| Baroness Ashton talks to the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes | Baroness Ashton talks to the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes |
| And a rocket was fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. It caused no injuries, but came a day after a rocket attack killed a Thai agricultural worker when it hit an Israeli kibbutz. | And a rocket was fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip. It caused no injuries, but came a day after a rocket attack killed a Thai agricultural worker when it hit an Israeli kibbutz. |
| Israeli aircraft attacked up to six targets in Gaza overnight but there were no reports of any serious casualties. | Israeli aircraft attacked up to six targets in Gaza overnight but there were no reports of any serious casualties. |
| On the eve of the Quartet meeting, Mr Netanyahu informed Mrs Clinton of new confidence-building measures that could be taken, but no details have been given. | |
| It is likely this means a goodwill gesture by the Israelis, like the release of Palestinian prisoners, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas, travelling with Mrs Clinton. | It is likely this means a goodwill gesture by the Israelis, like the release of Palestinian prisoners, says the BBC's Kim Ghattas, travelling with Mrs Clinton. |
| Enough progress was apparently made in their telephone conversation for George Mitchell, Washington's Middle East envoy, to travel to the region this weekend. | Enough progress was apparently made in their telephone conversation for George Mitchell, Washington's Middle East envoy, to travel to the region this weekend. |
| Mr Netanyahu is to visit Washington next week for further talks with Mrs Clinton. | Mr Netanyahu is to visit Washington next week for further talks with Mrs Clinton. |
| At the heart of the conflict are disputes over the status of Jerusalem, the borders of Israel and a future Palestinian state and the fate of Palestinian refugees. | At the heart of the conflict are disputes over the status of Jerusalem, the borders of Israel and a future Palestinian state and the fate of Palestinian refugees. |
| POINTS OF TENSION IN JERUSALEM 1 Gilo: 850 homes approved for publication and planning objections in Nov 20092 Pisgat Zeev: 600 homes approved for publication and planning objections in Jan 20103 Sheikh Jarrah: Several Palestinian families evicted in past 18 months to make way for Jewish settlers after court ruled in ownership dispute4 Ramat Shlomo: 1,600 homes approved for publication and planning objections in Mar 20105 Silwan: Demolition orders on 88 Palestinian homes built without difficult-to-get permits - Israel planning controversial renewal project6. West Bank barrier: Making Palestinian movement between West Bank and Jerusalem harder - Israel says it's for security |