(Communicated by the Foreign Minister's Bureau)
At the conclusion of a briefing given by Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Livni and PA President Mahmoud Abbas, the Quartet announced that it supports the process being conducted by Israel and the Palestinian Authority and will allow the parties to continue their bilateral negotiations, without international intervention, according to the principles and timetables set by the parties themselves.
The Quartet reiterated that international support is conditional on the Palestinian leadership adhering to the three conditions set by the Quartet and on dismantling the terrorist infrastructures, and that the international community is committed to fighting terrorism, incitement and intolerance. In effect, the international community adopted the guiding principles that Israel established as the basis for the continuation and success of the process.
Minister Livni stated at the briefing that Israel's long-term interests will be achieved only through dialogue and a comprehensive agreement with Israel's neighbors. The parties involved understand better than anyone the urgency of coming to an arrangement; only they know what they can live with and what they can't. Livni reiterated that Israel acknowledges the need to establish a Palestinian state but insists that it must not be a terrorist state. According to the foreign minister, the negotiations are serious and intense and show progress.
FM Livni added that Israel favors extending political and economic aid to a Palestinian leadership that recognizes Israel and honors its agreements and also operates against terrorism. She called on the international community to support efforts to prevent extremism and terror.