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Israel-Palestinian two-state solution 'in serious danger' Israel-Palestinian two-state solution 'in serious danger'
(about 1 hour later)
Hopes of a "two-state solution" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are in "serious danger", French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has warned.Hopes of a "two-state solution" in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are in "serious danger", French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has warned.
"We must act, urgently," he said at a French-led conference in Paris aimed at reviving the stalled peace process."We must act, urgently," he said at a French-led conference in Paris aimed at reviving the stalled peace process.
Officials from the Middle East Quartet, the United Nations, Arab League and about 20 states are attending the discussions in the French capital. Officials from the Middle East Quartet, the UN, Arab League and more than 20 states are attending the discussions.
But Israel and the Palestinians do not participate. The Palestinians described the talks as "a very significant step", while Israel criticised the meeting.
Mr Ayrault said urgent actions were needed "to preserve the two-state solution, revive it before it is too late". Neither Israel or the Palestinians are not taking part in the conference in the French capital.
Contrasting positions
Speaking on Friday, Mr Ayrault said urgent actions were needed "to preserve the two-state solution, revive it before it is too late".
He added that major powers were aiming to work out by the end of June a number of security guarantees and also economic incentives to encourage Israel and the Palestinians to resurrect the peace talks by the end of 2016.He added that major powers were aiming to work out by the end of June a number of security guarantees and also economic incentives to encourage Israel and the Palestinians to resurrect the peace talks by the end of 2016.
Earlier on Friday, French President Francois Hollande also warned that the threats posed by regional wars in the Middle East made a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians even more urgent.Earlier on Friday, French President Francois Hollande also warned that the threats posed by regional wars in the Middle East made a settlement between Israel and the Palestinians even more urgent.
"The discussion on the conditions for peace between Israelis and Palestinians must take into account the entire region," he said."The discussion on the conditions for peace between Israelis and Palestinians must take into account the entire region," he said.
"The threats and priorities have changed. The changes make it even more urgent to find a solution to the conflict, and this regional upheaval creates new obligations for peace.""The threats and priorities have changed. The changes make it even more urgent to find a solution to the conflict, and this regional upheaval creates new obligations for peace."
Meanwhile, senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told the BBC that "the mere fact that they met in Paris, these 26 countries along with the EU, the Arab League and the UN is a very significant step."
"And I think President Hollande really pinpointed the issue here: if we continue our failure in the peace process, if this Israeli government continues its policies of settlement and dictations and fait accompli policies, the day after will be the day for the extremists."
In Israel, Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon was quoted as saying by AFP news agency that "the international community accepted (Palestinian leader) Mahmud Abbas's demand and enabled him to continue to evade direct and bilateral negotiations without preconditions".
"The Paris meeting will go down in history as having only hardened Palestinian positions and pushed peace further away," he added.
Israeli officials have long insisted that only direct negotiations between them and the Palestinians might succeed.
Little optimismLittle optimism
The consensus among diplomats appears to be that any effort to revive the peace process is better than nothing at all, correspondents say, even though few are optimistic that concrete results will be forthcoming.The consensus among diplomats appears to be that any effort to revive the peace process is better than nothing at all, correspondents say, even though few are optimistic that concrete results will be forthcoming.
However, senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat, in an opinion piece on Friday, described France's bid to revive the peace process as bringing "a flicker of hope" for a resolution to the conflict.However, senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat, in an opinion piece on Friday, described France's bid to revive the peace process as bringing "a flicker of hope" for a resolution to the conflict.
Speaking earlier, Mr Ayrault said direct negotiations between both sides did not work.Speaking earlier, Mr Ayrault said direct negotiations between both sides did not work.
"Currently everything is blocked," he told France Info radio."Currently everything is blocked," he told France Info radio.
"We don't want to act in the place of the Israelis and Palestinians but we want to help them.""We don't want to act in the place of the Israelis and Palestinians but we want to help them."
Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editorAnalysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor
The Seine has flooded after days of torrential rain. The attention of Paris is on the weather, not the chances of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. That must be reassuringly normal after the violence in this city at the end of last year.The Seine has flooded after days of torrential rain. The attention of Paris is on the weather, not the chances of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. That must be reassuringly normal after the violence in this city at the end of last year.
The French President, Francois Hollande, said that with terrorism spreading around the world it is essential to push once again for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.The French President, Francois Hollande, said that with terrorism spreading around the world it is essential to push once again for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
President Hollande delivered a stern warning. Violence is rife, he said, and hope is diminishing. People should not fool themselves that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has become a peripheral issue just because of the turmoil elsewhere in the region.President Hollande delivered a stern warning. Violence is rife, he said, and hope is diminishing. People should not fool themselves that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has become a peripheral issue just because of the turmoil elsewhere in the region.
The president is right. The conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis is as full of poison as ever and can still create new international crises.The president is right. The conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis is as full of poison as ever and can still create new international crises.
Do not expect breakthroughs in Paris. But at least world powers are once again talking about a problem that will not go away.Do not expect breakthroughs in Paris. But at least world powers are once again talking about a problem that will not go away.
There have been numerous rounds of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians since the early 1990s, with the most recent collapsing in acrimony in April 2014.There have been numerous rounds of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians since the early 1990s, with the most recent collapsing in acrimony in April 2014.
The Palestinians accused Israel of reneging on a deal to free prisoners, while Israel said it would not continue negotiations after the Palestinians decided to bring the Islamist Hamas movement into a unity government.The Palestinians accused Israel of reneging on a deal to free prisoners, while Israel said it would not continue negotiations after the Palestinians decided to bring the Islamist Hamas movement into a unity government.
Israel has rejected the latest meeting and called for direct negotiations.Israel has rejected the latest meeting and called for direct negotiations.
French diplomatic sources - who were earlier quoted by AFP - said Friday's discussions would focus on the 2002 Saudi peace initiative, which offered Arab recognition of Israel in return for the creation of a Palestinian state in territories occupied by Israel since 1967.French diplomatic sources - who were earlier quoted by AFP - said Friday's discussions would focus on the 2002 Saudi peace initiative, which offered Arab recognition of Israel in return for the creation of a Palestinian state in territories occupied by Israel since 1967.
On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the Saudi plan included "positive elements". He has called for "direct negotiations without preconditions between the sides".On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the Saudi plan included "positive elements". He has called for "direct negotiations without preconditions between the sides".
However, the managing director of Israel's foreign ministry, Dore Gold, likened the French talks to the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement, which carved up the Middle East between colonial powers.However, the managing director of Israel's foreign ministry, Dore Gold, likened the French talks to the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement, which carved up the Middle East between colonial powers.
US Secretary of State, John Kerry, is attending the talks but Reuters news agency quoted a US official as saying the US did not have any new proposals to put forward.US Secretary of State, John Kerry, is attending the talks but Reuters news agency quoted a US official as saying the US did not have any new proposals to put forward.
Some of the most intractable issues include the status of Jerusalem, Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and Palestinian statehood.Some of the most intractable issues include the status of Jerusalem, Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and Palestinian statehood.