Israel Worried Quartet Report Could Be Basis of Significant UN Security Council Resolution

"Israel is concerned that the highly anticipated Quartet document could be the core of a United Nations Security Council resolution to replace Security Council Resolution 242, which has been the basis for Mideast diplomacy since 1967.

In the last few years the Palestinians have pushed for the council to amend that 1967 resolution to more clearly reflect their stance on the contours of a two-state solution.

When it comes to the impact of the document itself, however, Israel is not expecting the Quartet report on the Middle East to be 'overly dramatic.'...

Israel is less focused on 'softening' the document's language. Instead, its efforts are now geared to steering the diplomatic process once the Quartet's recommendations are presented...

The Quartet document, which has been in the works for months, is expected to slam Israel for its policies in the West Bank – settlement construction and preventing Palestinian development in Area C – as well as sharply criticize the Palestinians for violence and incitement...

The release of the report has already been postponed a number of times, and while there was some expectation that it would be released on Thursday, diplomatic officials are saying it may now not be presented until next week or even early July."