Mideast Quartet tries to keep hopes alive

There is unlikely to be a Middle East peace deal this year, but the Quartet of international mediators are vowing to keep hopes alive for a future breakthrough. Russian, EU, UN and US officials met in Egypt for an update on a process launched almost a year ago by President Bush.

But his goal of a deal before leaving office has become the victim of political transition in the US and Israel.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said: “The Quartet reiterated its call to the parties to fully implement their obligations under phase one of the roadmap, including in relation to freezing settlement activity and the dismantlement of the infrastructure of terrorism.”

A peace meeting is now planned for Moscow in the spring of next year. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said: “I believe that the Annapolis process is now the international community’s answer and the parties’ answer to how do we finally end the conflict between the Palestinians and Israelis.”

The Israeli Foreign Minister and the Palestinian President said they agreed on the need for continuous, direct, bilateral negotiations.

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