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France on Monday urged the European Union to pressure Israel to accept a two-state solution with the Palestinians, in another diplomatic step after its pledge to recognize a Palestinian state.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters at United Nations headquarters that while there is an international consensus that now is the time for a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, world powers must back up their words with concrete actions.
"The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, must clearly express expectations and indicate the means through which we can urge the Israeli government to heed this appeal," he said.
Barrot spoke on the first day of a high-level UN meeting on a two-state solution to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is being co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.
The conference, postponed from June and reduced to ministerial level, is being held in New York as international criticism of Israel's approach to the war in Gaza reaches its peak. Both Israel and its closest ally, the United States, refused to attend the meeting, which Barrot said was attended by representatives from 125 countries, including 50 ministers.
The purpose of the conference, according to Barrot, is "to reverse the trend of developments in the region - particularly the fading of the two-state solution, which has long been considered the only path that can bring peace and security."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected a two-state solution for both nationalist and security reasons. The United States has echoed this position, calling the conference “useless and inappropriate.”
“The United States will not participate in this affront, but will continue to lead real efforts to end the fighting and bring about a lasting peace,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement. “Our focus remains on serious diplomacy — not staged conferences intended to create the impression of importance.”
France is now the largest Western power and the only member of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations to recognize the state of Palestine - a move that could pave the way for similar decisions by other countries. More than 140 countries already recognize the Palestinian state./ REL
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