An economist: members of the Quartet are seriously considering withdrawing from it

Media 24 / Gaza / The director of the “Pal-Think” for Strategic Studies institution, the economic expert Omar Shaban, said that he has very special information indicating that some members of the international Quartet are thinking seriously of withdrawing from its membership.

Shaban mentioned on his “Facebook” page that this comes in protest at the disregard, the unilateralism, and its lack of legality — making clear that if that happens, and it is not ruled out, this means its end.

He pointed out that the Quartet is witnessing a serious discussion among its four members because of its ineffectiveness, its non-conformity with international law, and the unilateralism of (the committee's envoy for the peace process in the Middle East) Tony Blair in managing it.

Shaban noted that Russia, which had not been active in the Quartet, is returning anew, indicating that a meeting was held three days ago in occupied Jerusalem on this subject.

The Quartet committee, which was created in Madrid in 2002 as a result of the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East, comprises each of Russia, the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations.

Blair announced his agreement to represent the Quartet committee's envoy to the Middle East on 27 June 2007, where he announced on the same day his resignation from the premiership and the membership of parliament in Britain, and his agreement came after initial objections from Russia.

Shaban considered that the end of the Quartet pours into the interest of the Palestinian position, which was much harmed by the Quartet's pressures and its silence before the Israeli policies.

He indicated that the Quartet under Blair's leadership was, and still is, a sword hung over the Palestinian Authority and the (Palestinian) national reconciliation, and it had no role toward the blockade on Gaza and the humanitarian tragedy resulting from it.

Shaban pointed out that the Quartet did nothing in the areas classified “C” and in occupied Jerusalem.

He made clear that Blair works as a consultant for a number of international companies and for the government of Kuwait, where he receives millions of dollars, and he has left the management of the Quartet to a staff of foreign consultants who behave with a loathsome colonial condescension toward the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian society in general.

He pointed out that the economic plan of the American Secretary of State John Kerry was set by foreign experts in the Quartet without any consultation with the Palestinian Authority or Palestinian society, and on it was written “not for distribution”.

Shaban concluded, saying: “The Quartet must depart immediately, and be boycotted, so that the Palestinians unite”.

Shaban is the founder and director of the “Pal-Think for Strategic Studies institution”, and he is an independent researcher and analyst specialised in Palestinian affairs and the Arab-Israeli conflict, and writes about the developments in Palestine and the Arab world.

He participates in conferences on political and economic affairs in the Middle East and Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, and holds a master's degree in entrepreneurship from the University of Stirling in Scotland.

Source: http://www.media24.ps/ViewDetails-11817