Quartet | The American Task Force on Palestine

EU's Ashton extends mediation trip to Middle East
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet
by Justyna Pawlak - September 14, 2011 - 12:00am

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton extended a Middle East trip on Wednesday to hold more talks aimed at averting a Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations, officials said. Ashton is in the region to meet Israeli and Palestinian leaders as well as diplomats from Arab countries, part of an intense international effort to revive peace talks.

Mideast Quartet alarmed by Israel settlement plans
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Alertnet
by Louis Charbonneau - August 16, 2011 - 12:00am

The so-called Middle East Quartet which has been attempting to revive peace talks between the Palesinians and Israel said on Tuesday they were alarmed by Israel's latest announcements about new settlement plans. Israel announced on Monday approval for building 277 homes in a West Bank settlement, despite U.S. and international pressure to curb expansion on occupied land and as Palestinians prepare for a statehood bid at the United Nations.

Middle East Quartet Statement
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from
August 16, 2011 - 12:00am

The Quartet is greatly concerned by Israel's recent announcements to advance planning for new housing units in Ariel and Easter Jerusalem, and reiterated its position in this regard, in particular its statement of March 12, 2010. The Quartet reaffirms that unilateral action by either party cannot rejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community. Jerusalem in particular is one of the core issues that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties, which underscores the urgent need for the parties to resume serious and substantive talks.

The Arab Revolutions: Victims of Obstructionism at the Security Council
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Dar Al-Hayat
by Raghida Dergham - (Opinion) July 29, 2011 - 12:00am

The international community is gearing up for a political battle that will take place in September at the United Nations, over the issue of the promised Palestinian statehood, while anticipating possible surprises in August, coming from either Syria, Libya or Yemen, where the revolutions are yet to be settled, either in favor of the people demanding change, or in favor of the regimes clinging to power. Nonetheless, the Security Council will most probably remain shackled with the start of India’s presidency of the UNSC that will last throughout August.

Palestinian UN Vote No Longer A Certainty
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The Jewish Week
by Stewart Ain - July 26, 2011 - 12:00am

As the Palestinians prepare to unveil Thursday a draft of their resolution requesting United Nations’ recognition next month of an independent Palestinian state, many analysts believe such UN action is not inevitable.

America’s attempted Quartet sophistry
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Foreign Policy
by Daniel Levy - (Opinion) July 22, 2011 - 12:00am

As more information seeps out from the Quartet principals meeting held in Washington on July 11, it becomes harder not to reach the conclusion that American policy on Israel-Palestine is now being driven almost exclusively by a desire to prevent any possible U.N. vote on the matter in the Autumn. Reading the draft text proposed as a Quartet statement by the U.S. (the text is not yet public, but the authenticity of the draft described here has been reliably confirmed) and rejected by the EU, Russia, and the U.N. Secretary General entrenches that conclusion -- and worse, that the U.S.

As U.S. Steps Back, Europe Takes Bigger Role in Mideast Peace Push
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from The New York Times
by Mark Landler - July 20, 2011 - 12:00am

WASHINGTON — It is a truism of Middle East peacemaking that the United States is the pivotal player — the most credible broker between the Israelis and the Palestinians. But with talks at a standstill, the Obama administration now finds itself on the sidelines, and Europe is emerging as the key diplomatic actor.

Dr Musa A Keilani: Decision in the doldrums
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Gulf News
by Musa Keilani - (Opinion) July 19, 2011 - 12:00am

The international Quartet has proved itself to be ineffective in its mandate to broker Israeli-Palestinian peace. The Quartet, made up of the US, the UN, the European Union and Russia, could not get out of its own trap when the group met in Washington this month.

Officials: Mideast Quartet talks failed due to disagreement over Israel as Jewish state
ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Haaretz
by Barak Ravid - July 12, 2011 - 12:00am

The foreign ministers of the Middle East Quartet failed to reach an agreement on Monday surrounding the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state and therefore did not issue a public statement on their meeting meant to renew Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Western diplomats and senior officials in Jerusalem said Tuesday.

Video: Inside ATFP Gala 2013

Photo Gallery: ATFP Gala 2013

Recent News