Arabs Seek to Block Quartet Report at UN

"Arab nations are calling on the UN Security Council not to endorse a report aimed at reviving the Middle East peace process that the Palestinians see as biased in favor of Israel, the Palestinian envoy said Tuesday.

The report by the Middle East quartet - the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States - calls on Israel to halt settlement expansion and the Palestinians to stop inciting violence.

Arab diplomats agreed during a recent meeting to try to block any move by the council to adopt a US-drafted statement backing the long-awaited report's recommendations, Riyad Mansour told reporters.

Egypt, which represents the Arab group on the council, was told 'not to allow a statement to be adopted welcoming and endorsing the recommendations,' Mansour said as the council met to discuss the report..."