The European Union welcomes the recent publication of the Middle East Quartet report and endorsed its recommendations ‘’as a contribution to creating the conditions for the two-state solution,’’ EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said.

‘’The EU expresses concern at the trends on the ground and calls on the parties to swiftly engage with the Quartet and other relevant stakeholders and implement the recommendations in full,’’ she said as she expressed concern about growing threats to the two-state solution.

She said implementation of the Quartet recommendations ‘’would demonstrate a genuine commitment to a peaceful solution by rebuilding mutual trust and creating the conditions for direct and meaningful negotiations that resolve all final status issues.’’

Mogherini emphasized the importance of a close coordination with the follow up to the Ministerial meeting on the Middle East peace initiative organized in Paris on 3 June 2016, with a view to an international conference as identified in its conclusions of 20 June.

‘’The EU also endorses the call for further dialogue on the basis of the Arab Peace Initiative and its vision for achieving a comprehensive peace,’’ Mogherini’s statement said.

In its report, the Middle East diplomatic Quartet, made of the US, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, declared that a two-nation model is the only solution to the conflict. However, no timelines have been fixed for negotiations.

‘’The Quartet reiterates that a negotiated two-state outcome is the only way to achieve an enduring peace that meets Israeli security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, ends the occupation that began in 1967, and resolves all permanent status issues,’’ it said.

But the Quartet stressed that ‘’continuing violence, terrorist attacks against civilians, and incitement to violence are greatly exacerbating mistrust and are fundamentally incompatible with a peaceful resolution.’’

It also mentioned that ‘’the continuing policy of settlement construction and expansion, designation of land for exclusive Israeli use, and denial of Palestinian development is steadily eroding the viability of the two-state solution.’’

Reacting to the Quartet's statements, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the text perpetuated "the myth that Israeli construction in the West Bank is an obstacle to peace. When Israel froze settlements, it did not get peace."

The Palestinian Authority reportedly decided to halt its cooperation with the Quartet as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas alleged that the body is siding with Israel.

The fact that the Quartet report mentioned Palestinian violence and incitement as an obstacle for peace before relating to the Israeli settlements infuriated the Palestinians.

Mogherini urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to follow the report's recommendations. "We need the political leaders to show their commitment and implement the recommendations of the report," she said.

The UN's Middle East envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, also expressed the hope that the report would serve as a "wake-up call." "We can't leave this the way it is," he added. "We simply can't."