asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will support the request of the French Foreign Minister at the meeting of the Middle East quartet in Washington DC on 2 February for quartet action to return to full negotiations between Israel and Palestine. [HL1819]

We understand that French Foreign Minister Douste-Blazy has called for direct negotiations between the parties. The quartet (US, UN, EU and Russia) met on 2 February and reiterated its call for a renewed political process with the aim of launching meaningful negotiations, and welcomed the upcoming meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, Palestinian President Abbas and US Secretary of State Rice. The quartet also reaffirmed its commitment to meet regularly at both the principals’ and envoys’ levels. We support these developments and hope that they will lead to substantive negotiations between the parties. A copy of the quartet statement can be found at: http:/www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2007/february/79867.htm.