Ahmed Qurei: Only the US can bring peace to Israel and Palestine

From a speech by the Palestinian Prime Minister to the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London

The Palestinian Authority has never ceased to call on the Israeli government to return to negotiations without impossible preconditions. We have never ceased to call on the inter- national community to assist us in resuming the peace process. We have never given up on realising a negotiated peaceful solution on the basis of international legality and agreements signed between us and successive Israeli governments.

The Palestinian Authority has never ceased to call on the Israeli government to return to negotiations without impossible preconditions. We have never ceased to call on the inter- national community to assist us in resuming the peace process. We have never given up on realising a negotiated peaceful solution on the basis of international legality and agreements signed between us and successive Israeli governments.

I am taking this opportunity to renew this urgent Palestinian call for the resumption of negotiations on a very clear basis and to reiterate the call to the Quartet to activate its role. I also reiterate our call to the US administration to act upon its responsibilities as a sponsor of the peace process. Without the US, the great power, it would not be possible to end the conflict.

The Palestinian Authority has worked towards calming the explosive situation through achieving a mutual comprehensive ceasefire with Israel. In co-operation with the inter- national donor committee, it has continued comprehensive political, administrative, financial and security reforms.

Time is running out for the two-state solution, the elements of chaos and collapse are growing fast, and the moderates are losing their credibility.

Those calling for a negotiated settlement based on mutual respect and balance of interests are gradually being weakened, due to the spread of violence, tension and reoccupation. They are losing ground, due to the success of the extremists in imposing their agenda on the official agendas everywhere.