Quartet divided over peace monitoring
Representatives of the Quartet are meeting this week in an attempt to surpass deep divisions over how to monitor the road map's implementation, a key factor in the process, as it decides the sequence of events.
Envoys from the EU, UN, US and Russia are meeting to try and iron out differences over how progress is to be monitored. According to diplomats the EU, UN and US have all put forward plans for the monitoring process.
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Although details are still unclear, the US has proposed that four monitoring groups be set up with each Quartet member responsible for one area of the plan.
Under this agreement the EU would monitor reform of the Palestinian Authority and the US would take the critical area of security.
A spokesperson for The EU’s High Representative, Javier Solana, told the EUobserver that "parties would not accept that [arrangement]".
EU diplomats are worried that this would put security directly at the top of the agenda, holding the process hostage to gunmen.
Diplomats say it could also undercut the road map which calls for "reciprocal steps" to be taken by the two parties.
Other EU officials however admit that the US has a key role in assessing the security situation, and view the EU monitoring reform of the Palestinian Authority as "logical".
The EU plan puts the emphasis for monitoring more roundly on the Quartet as a whole.
A full Quartet meeting is due to take place on 22 and 23 May.
