France to Recognize Palestine if Peace Talks Fail

Speaking in Paris, French Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius (photo with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas) said that, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, France had a responsibility to continue efforts to find a solution between Israel and the Palestinian territories.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Friday his country was working to quickly revive plans for an worldwide conference to work toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

France’s Socialist government supports the idea of two states, but had previously argued that it was too early for outright recognition of a Palestinian state. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.

The United States released a statement saying that “the U.S. position on this issue has been clear”.

U.S.-led efforts to broker peace for a two-state solution collapsed in April 2014 and since then there have been no serious efforts to resume talks. “The status quo can’t continue in this way”.

If a statement by an unidentified Israeli official to Haaretz newspaper is confirmed, France will in fact end up recognizing the Palestine state in the coming weeks, because the source said Israel will reject the French peace initiative.

The PA’s chief negotiator, Saeb Erekat, welcomed the initiative.

Fabius’ efforts previous year fell within months of declarations by the Israeli PM during national elections that he would neither allow a Palestinian state or a Palestinian capital in occupied East Jerusalem.

He also spoke of the growing Palestinian frustrations after some 50 years of Israeli occupation. Advocating for a two-state solution by necessity requires a recognition of both states. “Negotiations can not be held nor peace achieved in this manner”.

Violence against it will only stop when its occupation of Palestinian lands ends.

He cited the global nuclear deal with Iran as a precedent that a “collective approach” is needed to solve the conflict with Israel.

“Steps aimed at advancing the Israeli settlement programme… are fundamentally incompatible with the two-state solution and raise legitimate questions about Israel’s long-term intentions”, U.S. ambassador to the UN, Samantha Power, told the council.

“Since Israel has persistently violated all agreements, reneged on all commitments and acted in ways to destroy the chances for peace, the conference should also embrace measures for monitoring, arbitration and accountability”, she added.