The creation in 2002 of the Quartet on the Middle East, comprising the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations, raised hopes for its critical contribution to the peace process in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A report released on Sept. 25, "The Middle East Quartet: A Progress Report," severely questions its role and criticizes its scant achievements. The report was prepared by 21 nongovernmental organizations working in the Palestinian Occupied Territories including CARE, Christian Aid, OXFAM, Save the Children Alliance and World Vision.

The report notes that the quartet, represented by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, has only achieved partial successes on issues such as security reform, donor pledges to the Palestinian Authority and private sector growth. But it also indicates that the citizens of Gaza have been largely left out of the process. As Martha Meyers, from CARE International, declared to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, "The 1.4 million citizens of Gaza, who are largely innocent and blameless, are hostage to political forces, decisions and lapses over which they have no control."

On some key issues, such as Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Palestinians freedom of movement and improvement of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, the Middle East Quartet has completely failed, according to the report. Daleep Mukarji, head of Christian Aid, stated, "The quartet is losing its grip on the Middle East peace process."