The
Middle East Quartet statement calling for a resumption of political talks
between the Palestinians and Israelis fell silent on a critical provision in
previous statements -- that is, a comment on Israeli settlements.
Glenn Kessler, a colleague at the Washington Post, who has covered Middle
East peace efforts for years, drew my attention to the omission, saying he
couldn't "recall a major Quartet statement that was so silent on settlements." Kessler, who now
writes the Post's Fact Checker
column, recalled that the Obama administration "ramped up the language" after
it came into power, marking a shift from the milder criticism in statements
adopted during Bush administration. "But now to have nothing on settlements,
well, that's a big switch," he said.
Check
out last
year's statement:
The
Quartet noted that the commendable Israeli settlement moratorium instituted
last November has had a positive impact and urged its continuation. The Quartet
recalled that unilateral actions by either party, including settlement
activity, cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be
recognized by the international community.
Or the year
before:
The
Quartet urges the Government of Israel to freeze all settlement activity,
including natural growth, and to refrain from provocative actions in East
Jerusalem,
or when
Barack Obama first became president:
The
Quartet urged the Government of Israel to freeze all settlement activity,
including natural growth; to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001; and
to refrain from provocative actions in East Jerusalem, including home
demolition and evictions.
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