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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| Sarkozy urges settlement freeze | Sarkozy urges settlement freeze |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for an end to Jewish settlement construction on Palestinian land, in an address to Israeli MPs. | French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for an end to Jewish settlement construction on Palestinian land, in an address to Israeli MPs. |
| He told the Israeli Knesset that without this there would be no lasting peace in the Middle East. | He told the Israeli Knesset that without this there would be no lasting peace in the Middle East. |
| On the first French state visit to Israel in 12 years, he said a peace agreement would allow the two peoples to live in peace and security. | On the first French state visit to Israel in 12 years, he said a peace agreement would allow the two peoples to live in peace and security. |
| Mr Sarkozy also told MPs that France would not accept a nuclear-armed Iran. | Mr Sarkozy also told MPs that France would not accept a nuclear-armed Iran. |
| Earlier on Monday the French president and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, where he rekindled the eternal flame. | Earlier on Monday the French president and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, where he rekindled the eternal flame. |
| Mr Sarkozy has met Israeli leaders and will go on to hold talks with top Palestinians. | |
| Dual capital | |
| "There can be no peace without stopping settlement," Mr Sarkozy told members of the Knesset. | "There can be no peace without stopping settlement," Mr Sarkozy told members of the Knesset. |
| He encouraged Israel to support a proposal, "backed by many members of your Knesset", for the adoption of a law that would encourage settlers to leave the West Bank in exchange for compensation and relocation in Israel. | |
| Israel is pushing ahead with plans to build hundreds more homes in the occupied West Bank, infuriating Palestinians and drawing international criticism. | |
| The French president also called on Israel to ease restrictions on Palestinians' movement within the West Bank. | |
| But he acknowledged that "the Israeli people have the right to live in security", and declared: "There can be no peace if Palestinians themselves do not combat terrorism." | |
| And, addressing one of the most contentious issues in the conflict, he said a lasting peace settlement had to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine. | |
| 'Friend of Israel' | |
| Correspondents say the French president's admiration for Israel is in contrast to his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, who was widely seen as pro-Arab. | Correspondents say the French president's admiration for Israel is in contrast to his predecessor, Jacques Chirac, who was widely seen as pro-Arab. |
| Mr Sarkozy was greeted on his arrival at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres. | Mr Sarkozy was greeted on his arrival at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv on Sunday by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Israeli President Shimon Peres. |
| Speaking at the airport, Mr Sarkozy said: "I have always been and will always be a friend of Israel... | Speaking at the airport, Mr Sarkozy said: "I have always been and will always be a friend of Israel... |
| "An agreement is possible, tomorrow, and that agreement would allow the two peoples to live side-by-side in peace and security." | "An agreement is possible, tomorrow, and that agreement would allow the two peoples to live side-by-side in peace and security." |
| "I am more convinced than ever that the security of Israel will only be truly guaranteed with the birth of a second state, a Palestinian state." | "I am more convinced than ever that the security of Israel will only be truly guaranteed with the birth of a second state, a Palestinian state." |
| From the airport, France's first couple headed to Jerusalem for talks with Mr Peres, followed by dinner with Mr Olmert. | From the airport, France's first couple headed to Jerusalem for talks with Mr Peres, followed by dinner with Mr Olmert. |
| After addressing the Knesset, Mr Sarkozy plans to travel to the West Bank town of Bethlehem for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday. | After addressing the Knesset, Mr Sarkozy plans to travel to the West Bank town of Bethlehem for talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday. |