MIDDLE EAST:THE MIDDLE East Quartet has failed to deliver essential progress on the ground in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis afflicting 3.7 million Palestinians, half of them children.
This is the assessment of Care, Oxfam, Save the Children, Christian Aid and another 16 non-governmental organisations. A 28-page report released today says "Palestinian women, children and men are increasingly dependent on aid as their livelihoods are destroyed." Although the Quartet, composed of the US, UN, EU and Russia, "identified 2008 as a crucial year" for the peace process and pledged to ensure the parties met their obligations, the group has failed in six vital areas.
Israeli settlement expansion is accelerating in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and there are "no serious attempts by the Israeli authorities to dismantle outposts", highlighting "the urgent need to go beyond rhetoric" and ensure Israeli compliance "with their obligations under international law", the report says.
Failure of the Quartet to secure the removal of Israeli checkpoints, provide free movement of people and goods in the West Bank and end the blockade of Gaza have denied Palestinians "tangible improvement in their daily lives" and "will lead to further impoverishment and economic decline".
In spite of the Gaza ceasefire, the "Quartet has been unable to end Gaza's isolation or facilitate adequate flows of humanitarian goods".
"Fuel is in short supply, UN and donor projects remain stalled." While there has been improvement in the performance of the EU-trained Palestinian police force in the West Bank, residents fear Israeli army raids and abuse of human rights by Palestinian police. Donor pledges have not been honoured.
The agencies recommend that all parties should be held accountable for their actions and that the Security Council should deny defaulters "impunity".
