Israeli settlements

MOSCOW, March 19 (UPI) -- Israel should halt expansion of settlements, an international group, which includes the United States, pushing for Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, said Friday.

The Quartet, meeting in Moscow, said talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators should engage in talks that would result in a peace agreement by 2012.

The Quartet is comprised of the United Nations, European Union, Russia and the United States. It was established eight years ago to facilitate Middle East peace talks.

Indirect talks were set up between the Palestinians and Israelis about two weeks ago but Israel last week announced building approvals for 1,600 housing units in East Jerusalem and the Palestinians withdrew from the proposed talks.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking Friday at the Quartet meeting, said such annexations aren't recognized by the international community and the Quartet "condemns" the expansion.

"The Quartet urges the government of Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth, dismantle outposts erected since March 2001 and to refrain from demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem," Ban said.

The diplomatic situation wasn't helped by Thursday's firing of a rocket from Palestinian areas in the Gaza Strip. The rocket hit an Israeli settlement, killing a Thai farm worker. Rocket and mortar fire from that area has recently been increasing.