Quartet urges Israeli settlement freeze

[ProgressiveMuslim]

Mideast peacemakers ‘condemn’ East Jerusalem building plan


msnbc.com news services
updated 6:35 a.m. ET, Fri., March. 19, 2010

MOSCOW - The so-called Quartet of Middle East mediators called on Israel to freeze all settlement activities and denounced Israel's aim to build new housing in East Jerusalem Friday.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon read a joint statement by the members — Russia, the United States, the U.N. and the European Union — following a meeting of the group in Moscow, which welcomed the prospect of "proximity talks" between Israel and the Palestinians.

"The Quartet believes these negotiations should lead to a settlement, negotiated between the parties within 24 months, that ends the occupation which began in 1967 and results in the emergence of an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbors," the statement said...

read on:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35944997/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/