The UAE participated in a meeting held by the Arab liaison group of the Arab League with the Middle East Quartet to discuss ways of reviving Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations and stepped up calls to both sides to take the necessary steps to bolster negotiations.

The Quartet, in a top-level meeting hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, called on the Palestinians to continue their efforts to reform the security services.

At the same time, the group - including Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister - called on Israel to freeze all colony building activities and to address the growing threat of colonist violence.

The calls came as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday he will "very soon" schedule Palestinian elections in the absence of reconciliation with the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip.The UAE participated in a meeting held by the Arab liaison group of the Arab League with the Middle East Quartet to discuss ways of reviving Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations and stepped up calls to both sides to take the necessary steps to bolster negotiations.

The Quartet, in a top-level meeting hosted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, called on the Palestinians to continue their efforts to reform the security services.

At the same time, the group - including Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister - called on Israel to freeze all colony building activities and to address the growing threat of colonist violence.

The calls came as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said yesterday he will "very soon" schedule Palestinian elections in the absence of reconciliation with the Hamas rulers of the Gaza Strip.