Statement issued by the Middle East Quartet on September 24, 2009

The Quartet:
- welcomes the recent meetings between United States President Barack Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as significant steps towards the re-launching of direct, bilateral negotiations as part of a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict
- reiterates that the only viable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an agreement that ends the occupation that began in 1967; resolves all permanent status issues as previously defined by the parties; and fulfills the aspirations of both parties for independent homelands through two States for two peoples
- reaffirms that Arab-Israeli peace and the establishment of a peaceful State of Palestine in the West Bank and Gaza is in the fundamental interests of the parties, of all States in the region and of the international community
- shares the sense of urgency expressed by President Obama and fully supports the steps outlined in his statement to the United Nations General Assembly on 23 September
- calls on Israel and the Palestinians to act on their previous agreements and obligations
- urges Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, and to refrain from provocative actions in East Jerusalem
- calls on the Palestinian Authority to continue to make every effort to improve law and order, to fight violent extremism
- welcomes the Palestinian Authority's plan for constructing the institutions of the Palestinian State within 24 months
- notes significantly improved economic growth in the West Bank and welcomes initial ministerial contact between the Palestinian Authority and Israel on economic issues
- welcomes steps by Israel to promote change on the ground and encourages it to redouble those efforts, in particular concerning free movement of people and goods
- calls on all States in the region and in the wider international community to match this commitment
- welcomes the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee’s commitment to coordinating assistance for Palestinian economic and institutional development
- stresses the urgency of a durable resolution to the Gaza crisis
- calls for a solution that addresses Israel’s legitimate security concerns, including an end to weapons smuggling into Gaza; promotes the reunification of Gaza and the West Bank under the legitimate Palestinian Authority; and facilitates the opening of the crossings to allow for the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza
- reaffirms its support for the proposed United Nations-led civilian reconstruction activities in Gaza
- reiterates its call for the immediate release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit
- urges regional Governments to support the resumption of bilateral negotiations towards normalization of relations and progress towards peace.
- commits to remain actively involved on all tracks and supports an international conference in Moscow in 2009
- tasks the envoys to continue to meet regularly and to formulate recommendations for Quartet action.