MOSCOW. Aug 23 (Interfax) - The quartet brokering a Middle East settlement, which is comprised of Russia, the United States, the UN and the European Union, have called on Israel and the Palestinians to hold direct talks in Washington on September 2.
"The quartet is urging Israel and the Palestinians to start direct talks in Washington on September 2 to resolve all problems pertaining to the final status and realization of the hopes cherished by both sides," the quartet said in a statement, which the Russian Foreign Ministry circulated on Friday.