'Status quo' not sustainable, UN and Middle East partners warn

“The Quartet expressed its serious concern that current trends on the ground – including continued acts of violence against civilians, ongoing settlement activity, and the high rate of demolitions of Palestinian structures – are dangerously imperilling the viability of a two-state solution,” according to a statement issued in Munich, Germany.

“The Quartet reiterated that unilateral actions by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of a negotiated solution,” said the statement, which was issued following a meeting of representatives of the diplomatic grouping – European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, United States Secretary of State John Kerry andSecretary-General Ban Ki-moon, represented by Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson.

According to today's statement, “the Quartet reiterated that the status quo is not sustainable and that significant steps, consistent with the transition contemplated by prior agreements, are urgently needed to stabilize the situation and to reverse negative trends on the ground.” Continued absence of such steps “was leading to further deterioration, to the detriment of both Israelis and Palestinians,” the statement said.

It added that: “The Quartet will remain engaged with the parties in order to explore concrete actions that both sides can take to demonstrate their genuine commitment to pursuing a negotiated two-state solution.”

Meanwhile, in Geneva, a spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Cécile Pouilly, expressed concerns over recent developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel. OHCHR had received “worrying news” that the Al-Qassam Brigades had executed one of their members, Mahmoud Eshtaiwi, in Gaza, on 7 February, which “may amount to an extra-judicial killing and “an arbitrary deprivation of life,” she said in a press briefing note.

OHCHR called on the Palestinian authorities, including authorities in Gaza, to quickly launch an independent and credible investigation.

The UN human rights office also remained deeply concerned about the situation of Mohammed al-Qiq, who had been on hunger strike for 80 days to protest against his administrative detention in Israel, the Spokesperson continued. His condition was reported to be critical and OHCHR once again called for “all persons in administrative detention in Israel to be either charged with a criminal offense or released immediately,” she added.

UNICEF/UN08528/El Baba