Russia's presidential representative in the Middle East and the U.S. envoy to Moscow have discussed the possibility of a Middle East Quartet meeting at a ministerial level in the near future.
The Quartet is made up of the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia.
Alexander Saltanov and John Beyrle also expressed concern that direct Israeli-Palestinian talks, which were resumed after a 20-month break in September, had been derailed, a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
"Both sides have said that Israel's prolongation of a moratorium on settlement construction in the West Bank would create the necessary atmosphere for the resumption of talks," the statement said.
Israel's 10-month settlement construction freeze in the occupied West Bank expired on September 26.
The United States has offered Israel a package of incentives in exchange for a 90-day moratorium on construction. The proposal has angered the Palestinians since it does not include East Jerusalem, the future capital of any Palestinian state.
MOSCOW, November 15 (RIA Novosti)
