WASHINGTON (AFP) ? Envoys from the Middle East diplomatic Quartet meet in Washington Monday to urge Israelis and the Palestinians to resume peace talks in hopes of avoiding a major confrontation at the United Nations in September.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov are scheduled to meet for a dinner at 7 pm (2300 GMT) at the State Department. Quartet envoy Tony Blair, the former British prime minister, will also participate.
Ahead of the meal, Clinton and Ashton are set to hold a press conference scheduled for 3:35 pm (1935 GMT).
Quartet members unanimously support the position taken by US President Barack Obama, who in May urged the two parties to base the borders of their countries on the 1967 borders with mutually-agreed swaps.
"I took the initiative to propose a Quartet meeting in July as the best way to achieve progress," Ashton said in a statement released ahead of the meeting.
Ashton noted "the changes in the surrounding neighborhood" -- a reference to the Arab Spring -- moves towards reconciliation among rival Palestinian groups, Obama's speech in May, and the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting as bringing "a renewed focus on the possibility of talks and a negotiated solution."
When the United Nations General Assembly meets in September, the Palestinians are planning to seek recognition of their state within the 1967 lines that preceded the Six-Day War, despite the opposition of both Israel and the United States.
Peace talks ground to a halt in September 2010 when Israel failed to renew a partial freeze on settlement construction in the occupied West Bank.
Since then, the Palestinians have refused to return to talks as long as Israel builds on land they want for a future state.
"I do not underestimate the challenge," Ashton said, adding that her goal is to adopt a statement "that will help the Israelis and Palestinians make progress and allow for a return to the negotiating table."
The bar is set low in terms of objectives, which explains why the United States hesitated before agreeing to hold the meeting, arguing the conditions for success were simply not there. But a complete lack of diplomatic activity also seemed impossible.
Some European countries like France have indicated they might recognize an independent Palestinian state if peace talks are not back on track by September.
But others, including Germany and the Netherlands, are opposed to any unilateral steps.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has vowed to pursue the unilateral bid for recognition barring any prospects of a renewal of negotiations with Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the 1967 borders "indefensible," insisting there would not be a peace agreement without the Palestinians first recognizing Israel as the "Jewish state" and thus as the homeland of the Jewish people alone.
Israel also wants to keep sovereignty over east Jerusalem, annexed after its occupation, as well as large swaths of settlements in the West Bank and a long-term military presence in the Palestinian section of the Jordan Valley.
All of these demands have been rejected by the Palestinians, who are also demanding a freeze on settlement building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
On Sunday, Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi urged the Quartet to "undertake its responsibilities seriously."
Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization, called on the group to commit to clear guidelines and a timeframe for any new talks, and to "effectively bring Israel to compliance, including a cessation of all settlement activities."
The Palestinians have accused Washington of failing to insist on a new moratorium and weakening the Quartet's position on settlement construction, which much of the international community regards as illegal.
"The Quartet must exhibit the political will to translate words into action. Until this happens there will be no change to the current status quo," Ashrawi said.
Separately, Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt urged the Quartet in a Twitter message that "clear language on principles for peace settlement necessary."
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