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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 UN, Arab League and more than 20 states are attending the discussions. Officials from the Middle East Quartet, the UN, Arab League and more than 20 states attended the discussions.
The Palestinians described the talks as "a very significant step", while Israel criticised the meeting.The Palestinians described the talks as "a very significant step", while Israel criticised the meeting.
Neither side is represented at the Paris gathering. Neither side was represented at the Paris gathering.
Contrasting positionsContrasting positions
Mr Ayrault said urgent actions were needed "to preserve the two-state solution, revive it before it is too late".Mr Ayrault said urgent actions were needed "to preserve the two-state solution, revive it before it is too late".
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. Major powers were aiming to work out this month a number of security guarantees and economic incentives to encourage Israel and the Palestinians to resurrect the peace talks by the end of 2016, he added.
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. 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 consensus among diplomats appeared to be that any effort to revive the peace process was better than nothing at all, correspondents said, even though few were optimistic about concrete results.
Mixed view
The initiative was praised by Palestinian officials but criticised by Israel, saying the meeting "only hardened Palestinian positions and pushed peace further away".
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon, quoted by AFP, also said "the international community accepted [Palestinian leader] Mahmoud Abbas's demand and enabled him to continue to evade direct and bilateral negotiations without preconditions".
Discussions about discussions: By Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor
France's President Francois Hollande issued a warning about doing nothing. Violence he said was rife, and hope diminishing.
The final communiqué said the status quo was not sustainable. Continuing violence was alarming and so was the expansion of Jewish settlements on land the Palestinians want for a state. Both Israelis and Palestinians would have to show, through policies and actions, that they were committed to a two state solution.
The Palestinians welcome the internationalisation of attempts to end the conflict. They believe they get more sympathy from European countries than from the United States.
The Israeli foreign ministry called the conference a missed opportunity. It said pressure should have put on Mr Abbas, to talk one on one with Israel's Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu.
That suggests the Israeli government feels under pressure. Mr Netanyahu has also been criticised for appointing a controversial hardliner, Avigdor Lieberman, as defence minister. Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak said the move showed the seeds of fascism had infected Israel.
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."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.""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."
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon. quoted by AFP, said 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.
Little 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 about concrete results.
Analysis: 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 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.
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.
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.
French diplomatic sources - 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 - 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 attended the Paris talks. But Reuters news agency quoted a US official as saying Washington did not have any new proposals to put forward.US Secretary of State, John Kerry attended the Paris talks. But Reuters news agency quoted a US official as saying Washington 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.