Palestinians await quartet statement to decide on talks

RAMALLAH - The Palestinian Authority is waiting for a statement from the international Mideast quartet containing certain guarantees before making a final decision on joining direct negotiations with Israel, a senior Palestinian official said Friday.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Thursday that the quartet - composed of the EU, US, Russia and the UN - is working on a statement that would encourage Palestinians and Israelis to start direct negotiations and that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is very close to deciding on going to the direct talks.

Nimr Hammad, political advisor to Abbas, said in a statement that Abbas is waiting for the quartet statement “to make the right decision regarding direct negotiations.”

He said the quartet is expected to meet and issue a statement calling on both Palestinians and Israelis to go to direct negotiations.

“We hope the (quartet) statement will include the important points that came in its March statement,” said Hammad, adding “we asked for the points which we feel will help move into direct negotiations.”

Abbas has indicated he will agree to direct talks if they are based on the March 19 quartet statement, which calls on Israel to stop all settlement activities in the occupied territories, including in East Jerusalem and the so-called natural growth, and for the parties to conclude a peaceful solution within 24 months.

Hammad said the US administration seems ready to accept a quartet statement that would call on both parties to start direct talks. He said David Hill, US assistant to special envoy George Mitchell, may bring the US response to Abbas Sunday.