Quartet Urges “Israel” to Extend Moratorium

According to a statement released on Tuesday, the Quartet - the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations- noted that the commendable "Israeli" settlement moratorium instituted last November has had a positive impact and urged its continuation."

The Quartet's statement urged both sides to "promote an environment conducive to progress, including by refraining from provocative actions and inflammatory rhetoric," and called upon "Israel" to further ease restrictions on Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

U.S. has already called "Israel" to extend the moratorium on new settlement activity. For their part, the Palestinians have said they will drop out of the peace talks unless the freeze continues.

The Quartet's statement typically condemned "continued violence", particularly an attack in the occupied West Bank which killed four "Israelis" on August 31 and was claimed by the Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas.

During a 10-month settlement freeze announced in November, the government of "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continued to trick the international community by saying it has stopped its invitations for tenders even as settlement activity continues on the ground.