BICOM

France’s Ambassador to Israel presented Israeli officials yesterday with details of a proposed French initiative for a peace conference in Paris this summer.

Several weeks ago, outgoing French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced that the French government “will engage in the coming weeks in the preparation of an international conference” in order “to preserve and bring about the two-state solution.” Crucially, Fabius added that should the initiative prove fruitless, “In that case, we will have to live up to our responsibilities and recognise a Palestinian state.”

France’s Ambassador to Israel Patrick Maisonnave presented further details yesterday to the head of the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic office Alon Ushpiz, outlining that consultations would begin immediately, followed by the establishment of an international support group, in preparation for the formal conference in June or July. Spokesman for Israel’s Foreign Ministry Emmanuel Nachshon said Ushpiz told Maisonnave that Israel supports direct negotiations with the Palestinians, but opposes any attempt to predetermine their results. He said, “This principle, which has accompanied the process from the beginning, has had the support of the international community over a period of years and was also the basis of peace negotiations with Jordan and Egypt.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was more forthright in his response. During a press conference alongside Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin, he said that the French initiative is “puzzling” given the threat by Paris to recognise a Palestinian state if it is unsuccessful. “This ensures in advance that the conference will fail,” said Netanyahu as the Palestinians will have no incentive to compromise. He added, “There is only one way to advance peace: direct negotiations without precondition between the parties. Anyone who strays from this will not advance successful negotiations.”

Although Merkel did not directly address the French initiative, she commented on the outlook for peace prospects, saying, “Now is certainly not the time to make really comprehensive progress,” explaining that Germany views the situation “realistically.”