U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union Catherine Ashton, the Quartet reaffirmed its determination to actively and vigorously seek a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, following the application submitted by President Abbas on 23rd September 2011 which is now before the Security Council.

The Quartet, which met on 23rd September 2011 once the President Abbas submitted the application his request to the UN for recognition of a Palestinian state, reaffirmed its strong support for the vision of Israeli-Palestinian peace outlined by United States President Barack Obama. In addition, the Quartet reiterated its commitment to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East and to seek a comprehensive resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and reaffirms the importance of the Arab Peace Initiative.

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton, following the Middle East Quartet meeting in New York highlighted that there is the belief that, through negotiations, it would be able to end this conflict and move to peace and security for the people of Palestine and the people of Israel. She also added that within three months, the Quartet would want to see significant progress on borders and security; moreover, the negotiations should be completed within a 12-month timeframe. In addition, the EU is one of the donor for humanitarian aid to Palestine. In September, €115 million was given as a new European assistance package to Palestine.

The Quartet members, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union Catherine Ashton, plus Tony Blair as a Quartet Representative who also joined the meeting, proposed some steps to be achieved in order to re-establish the trust necessary for such a negotiation to succeed.