RAMALLAH, April 12, 2012 (WAFA) – Prime Minister Salam Fayyad Thursday welcomed the Quartet’s latest statement on the Middle East conflict.

He particularly welcomed in a statement a call by the Quartet on Israel to take effective measures against ongoing settler violence and incitement in the West Bank, including bringing the perpetrators of such acts to justice.

Fayyad also welcomed the Quartet position on Area C, which makes more than 60% of the West Bank and under full Israel control while the Palestinian Authority is not allowed to develop it.

He specifically welcomed the part in which the Quartet said it encourage the parties “to facilitate the social and economic development of Area C, which is of critical importance for the viability of a future Palestinian state as well as for its Palestinian inhabitants to be enabled to lead a normal life.”

Fayyad said he was encouraged by the Quartet’s call to preserve and build on the Palestinian Authority’s institutional gains, and expand economic opportunities for the Palestinian people.

He mentioned the Quartet’s call “on the need for continued international support for the Palestinian Authority’s important institution-building efforts,” and specifically a call on the international community to ensure the contribution of $1.1 billion in assistance to meet the Palestinian Authority’s 2012 recurrent financing requirements.

Fayyad said the Quartet should follow up on its calls, particularly the call on Israel to stop settlement activities including in East Jerusalem.

He said Israel’s settlement construction violates international law and poses a real threat to the two-state solution and future of peace in the region.

The Quartet principals - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton – met in Washington on Wednesday and discussed the latest in the peace process.

They called on the parties to resume direct negotiations, which has stopped since September 2010 due to Israel’s refusal to suspend settlement construction in the occupied territories during negotiations.

M.S.