Middle East Quartet Backs Sharon Plan

The Middle East Quartet, a group comprised of representatives from the U.S., European Union (EU), United Nations (UN) and Russia, met in New York as requested by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. In a statement the group released yesterday, the Quartet said that Sharon’s plan to eliminate 21 settlements in the Gaza Strip and four in the West Bank was a rare opportunity for peace in the Middle East.

It was also mentioned that the Sharon plan could help revitalize negotiations between the two governments (Israel and Palestine).

An excerpt from the statement reads: "None of the parties can act alone on the issues, which can only be solved by compromise and negotiation. The final decision about the borders and refugees should be determined by an accord between Israelis and Palestinians."