Mideast Quartet Calls on Palestinians to End Violence

The statement from the United States, Russia, European Union and United Nations also recognized Israel’s right to self-defense, but balanced that with calls for an end to settlement construction, criticism of an Israeli security fence and an appeal that Israel minimize civilian casualties, Reuters reported.

Representatives of the four groups met on the back of U.N. General Assembly talks in New York this week.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said terrorist attacks have halted positive steps that Israel was taking under U.S. pressure, and unless the Palestinians find a leader who will take charge of security and act against groups such as Hamas, “we will find ourselves continually frustrated.”

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan also said Palestinians must take “immediate and decisive steps” against militant groups, the Associated Press reported.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said the United Nations might have to take further steps if violence continues, though he did mention specifics.

The quartet members said Palestinian security forces must be consolidated “under the clear control of an empowered prime minister and interior minister and must be the sole armed authority on the West Bank and Gaza.”

The statement also criticized the building of the security wall or fence around the West Bank, which Israel has said is needed to deter Palestinian suicide bombers.

In an interview Thursday on the NewsHour, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman said the fence may have the unintended consequence of mobilizing Palestinians to call for one state — and voting rights — as their numbers gradually surpass the Jewish population within the combined land mass.

Israeli and Palestinian officials declined direct comment on the mediators’ statement but said it was up to the other side to take steps to reopen the peace process, Reuters reported.

Hours after the meeting, a Palestinian opened fire in a house in the settlement of Negahot, near Hebron, killing a 30-year-old man and a two-month-old infant, Israeli radio reported.

The attacker was shot and killed by soldiers guarding the settlement.

The nighttime attack occurred at the start of the Jewish New Year. Israeli forces were on high alert because of the religious holiday, which continues through sunset on Sunday.