[Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA:

#1. No Jewish construction: The Quartet urged the government of Israel to
freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth

#2. Unrestricted illegal Arab construction in Jerusalem: "to refrain from
provocative actions in East Jerusalem, including home demolition and
evictions."

#3. Facilitate Hamas bunker building and weapons manufacturing: " The
Quartet called for a....sustained reopening of all crossings points to
ensure regular flow of ....commercial goods." (so that they can manufacture
their own weapons and ammunition).]

Quartet Statement from the June 26, 2009 Meeting in Trieste

Bureau of Public Affairs

Office of the Spokesman

Washington, DC

June 26, 2009
www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2009/06a/125433.htm

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following statement was issued today by the Middle East Quartet (United
Nations, European Union, Russian Federation, and the United States).

Begin Text:

The Quartet - U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov, High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy of
the European Union Javier Solana, European Commissioner for External
Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Kohout, U.S
Under Secretary of State William Burns, and U.S. Special Envoy for Middle
East Peace George Mitchell - met in Trieste on June 26, 2009. They were
joined by Quartet Representative Tony Blair.

The Quartet affirmed its determination to actively and vigorously seek a
comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, on the basis of UN
Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, 1397, 1515, 1850, the Madrid
principles including land for peace, the Roadmap, and the agreements
previously reached between the parties. The Quartet underscored that the
only viable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one that ends
the occupation that began in 1967 and fulfils the aspirations of both
parties for independent homelands through two states for two peoples, Israel
and an independent, contiguous, and viable state of Palestine, living side
by side in peace and security. The Quartet welcomed the commitment of Prime
Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas to the two-state solution, and
reiterated that lasting peace throughout the region can only be based on an
enduring commitment to mutual recognition, freedom from violence,
incitement, and terror; and the two-state solution, building upon previous
agreements and obligations. The Quartet underscored the importance of
fostering peaceful coexistence throughout the region through the conclusion
of peace agreements between Israel and Syria and Israel and Lebanon, in a
manner that is mutually reinforcing with efforts to establish the state of
Palestine, and through the full normalization of relations between all
states based on the Arab Peace Initiative.

The U.S. briefed the Quartet on its intensive, ongoing discussions with all
parties in the region to create the conditions for the prompt resumption and
early conclusion of negotiations to resolve all permanent status issues,
without preconditions. The Quartet affirmed that these negotiations must
result in an end to all claims. It agreed that Arab-Israeli peace and the
establishment of a state of Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza in which the
Palestinian people can determine their own destiny is in the fundamental
interests of the international community. The Quartet called on all parties
concerned to take meaningful steps to support this objective.

In that context, the Quartet called on Israel and the Palestinians to
implement their obligations under the Roadmap and affirmed that unilateral
actions taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations
and will not be recognized by the international community. The Quartet urged
the government of Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including
natural growth; to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001; and to
refrain from provocative actions in East Jerusalem, including home
demolition and evictions. The Quartet acknowledged progress made by the
Palestinian Authority to reform the Palestinian security sector and called
on the Palestinian Authority to continue to make every effort to improve law
and order and to fight violent extremism. It encouraged further Israeli
cooperation for the success of Palestinian security reform. It also urged
the Palestinian government to enhance its efforts to build the institutions
of the future Palestinian state. Both sides have to stop incitement and
violence against civilians. Taking note of the June 24 meeting of the Arab
League ministers and underscoring its commitment to comprehensive peace on
all tracks, the Quartet expressed support for dialogue among all states in
the region in the spirit of the Arab Peace Initiative and called on Arab
states to take steps to recognize Israel's rightful place in the region; to
affirm that violence cannot achieve regional peace and security; and to
assist the Palestinian people in building their future state through
consistent support for the Palestinian Authority.

Noting the detrimental effect of Palestinian divisions and underscoring its
desire for these divisions to be overcome, the Quartet called on all
Palestinians to commit themselves to non-violence, recognition of Israel,
and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations. Restoring Palestinian
unity based on the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) commitments would
be an important factor in this process, while facilitating reconstruction of
Gaza and the organisation of elections. The Quartet expressed support, on
this basis, for the ongoing mediation efforts of Egypt and the Arab League
for Palestinian reconciliation behind President Mahmoud Abbas and appealed
to all states in the region to play a constructive role in supporting the
reconciliation process.

The Quartet discussed Gaza and agreed that the current situation is
unsustainable and not in the interests of any of those concerned. The
Quartet expressed serious concern at the humanitarian and human rights
situation of the civilian population. It reiterated the urgency of reaching
a durable solution through the implementation of UN Security Council
Resolution 1860. The Quartet called for the unimpeded provision and
distribution throughout Gaza of humanitarian assistance, including food,
fuel, and medical treatment. The Quartet called for a complete halt to all
violence, as well as an intensification of efforts to prevent illicit
trafficking in arms and ammunition into Gaza and for a sustained reopening
of all crossings points to ensure regular flow of people and humanitarian
and commercial goods. The Quartet offered its support in this regard for the
proposals of the United Nations to resume early recovery construction
activities in Gaza. The Quartet called on those holding the abducted Israeli
soldier Gilad Shalit to release him without delay.

The Quartet welcomed plans by the government of Israel to promote
Palestinian economic development. The Quartet declared its readiness to work
closely with Israel, the Palestinian government and international donors in
order to achieve sustainable economic development on the basis of the full
implementation of the Agreement on Access and Movement of 2005 and in the
broader perspective of the two-state solution. Recalling the recent meeting
of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC), the Quartet called for robust and
sustained financial support for the Palestinian Authority. The Quartet
welcomed recent steps by Israel, which if expanded and sustained, can have a
significant impact on Palestinian freedom of movement. The Quartet
recognizes that Israel has legitimate security concerns that must continue
to be safeguarded, and believes efforts to maintain security while enabling
movement and access for Palestinian people and goods are critical. Noting
that delivering transformative change on the ground should form an integral
and essential part of the agenda for peace, the Quartet encouraged
cooperation of the parties with the Quartet Representative in order to
deliver such change and in particular to improve the movement of goods and
people in the West Bank and Gaza, concurrently with security and broader
rule of law efforts.

The Quartet expressed its determination to support the parties and regional
and international partners to successfully pursue negotiations and to
implement agreements, on all tracks of the process. The Quartet tasked the
envoys to meet regularly and actively follow-up with the parties to promote
implementation of Quartet positions and formulate recommendations for
Quartet action.

The Quartet re-affirmed its previous statements and supports, in
consultation with the parties, an international conference in Moscow in
2009.

PRN: 2009/645