You are in > manchester.com  > News > Middle East Quartet 'having no impact'

Politics

Middle East Quartet 'having no impact'

25/09/2008

A major coalition of human rights organisations and aid groups has warned the Middle East Quartet there is a "fatal threat" to peace in the region unless it makes progress in its key objectives.

According to a new report the Quartet – the EU, Russia, the UN and the US – is failing to improve the lives of Palestinians.

A coalition of 21 organisations said the situation in Gaza and the status of most of negotiators' objectives were unchanged or had deteriorated since the Annapolis conference last November.

That summit concluded with US president George Bush, Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas pledging to find a lasting solution by the end of 2008.

Such an accomplishment is now viewed as impossible, with Mr Bush months away from leaving the White House, Mr Olmert resigning amid corruption allegations and Mr Abbas still unable to exert influence over Hamas-controlled Gaza.

The Quartet – including its special envoy Tony Blair – are meeting in New York tomorrow to discuss progress on its objectives.

According to today's report, signed off on by Care International UK, Christian Aid, Oxfam International, Save the Children UK and World Vision Jerusalem among others, the Quartet has failed to hold the Israeli government to account over illegal settlements.

The coalition also accuses world powers of making a "negligible impact" on improving access and movement, while 80 per cent of Gazans still depend on outside aid as the region toils under an Israeli blockade.

"Today's study shows that the Quartet has fundamentally failed to improve the humanitarian situation on the ground. Unless the Quartet's words are matched by more sustained pressure and decisive action, the situation will deteriorate still further," said Save the Children UK director of policy David Mepham.

"Time is fast running out. The Quartet needs to radically revise its existing approach and show the people of the region that it can help make a difference."

In five out of ten objectives there has been no change, the coalition says, despite progress in securing donor pledges and increase fuel aid.

Christian Aid director Daleep Mukarji is among those calling for a UN security council resolution to support the Quartet's aims, an immediate end to the Gaza blockade and the Hamas-Israeli ceasefire to be reinforced.

"The Annapolis process was meant to herald a new dawn for the Middle East peace process," the director said.

"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."

In further comment, Martha Myers of Care International said: "We are facing a vacuum in leadership.

"The Quartet has been unable to hold parties to their obligations and this must change fast. The Quartet's credibility is on the line and we hope it will use this meeting to show it is able to go beyond rhetoric and make a real difference to the lives of Palestinians and Israelis."

As well as former UK prime minister Tony Blair, US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov are all set to hold talks in New York today.

A Foreign Office spokesperson told inthenews.co.uk that the UK government welcomed today's report.

"It shows several areas where real progress is being made," the representative said.

"But we agree that more needs to be done. The Quartet is a crucial mechanism for coordinating the international community's support of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian negotiations.

"This week the foreign secretary [David Miliband] will meet with President Abbas, Arab foreign ministers and members of the Quartet to discuss how to take the peace process forward into 2009."