Quarterly Updates

On 8/27, the UN published a significant report, the headline of which claimed that the Gaza Strip would no longer be "liveable" by 2020 (see Doc.

During this quarter, the EU was ambivalent regarding the Palestinians' UN statehood bid, with differences of opinion between member states being exposed. The EU was also lobbied by the U.S.

On the Israeli-Palestinian front: Russian pres. Vladimir Putin made a 1-day visit to Israel on 6/25 for the unveiling of a monument dedicated to Russian soldiers.

The Washington Times ran (5/30) a special report on how Israel's relationship with China was raising international concerns.

On 6/29, UNESCO's World Heritage Committee approved (13–6) a Palestinian request to place the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem on its list of world heritage sites at risk because of its urgent need for repairs. The U.S. strongly opposed the request, stating the church was not imperiled.

The EU took no major decisions or action related to the Palestinians or the peace process this quarter. However, Israeli FM Avigdor Lieberman went to Brussels on 7/23 for a regular consultation with the EU.

Russia limited its involvement on the Israeli-Palestinian track to the Quartet this quarter, focusing instead on issues related to Syria and Iran.

The UN-affiliated International Criminal Court (ICC) rejected (4/3) a PA request to sign the ICC's founding treaty (the Rome Statute), reaffirming that only internationally recognized states can join the court.

The EU largely limited its involvement on the Israel-Palestine issue to the Quartet this quarter, focusing instead on issues related to Iran and the Arab Spring.

As noted above (see “Jordan Hosts Israeli-Palestinian ‘Exploratory Talks'”), after Israeli-Palestinian exploratory talks collapsed, UN Secy.-Gen. Ban made (1/31–2/2) a special trip to the region to meet with Jordan's King Abdallah and FM Judeh, PA pres.

The EU largely restricted its participation in the peace process this quarter to the Quartet, with EU foreign policy dir.

Russia did not play a major role in the peace process or the Palestine issue this quarter, generally limiting its involvement to the Quartet.