BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister has told the French President that he is prepared to meet the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) President in Paris, but not under the framework of France’s multi-lateral peace initiative.

A statement from Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that he had spoken to Hollande and told him that “if there is no international conference in Paris, the Prime Minister will come to meet Abu Mazen [Mahmoud  Abbas] for direct talks without preconditions”.

It added that Israel will “not take part in an international conference that will not contribute to achieving peace”.

French daily Le Figaro reported earlier this week that France’s Ambassador to Israel invited Netanyahu to meet Abbas in Paris on 22 December, the day after France hopes the international conference will convene.

Last month, Israel formally told France that it does not intend to participate in the conference. Israeli leaders have consistently argued that such a multi-lateral framework will hand the PA cover to make unrealistic demands and avoid real negotiations. The PA has previously demanded a freeze on West Bank construction and the release of Palestinian prisoners as a pre-condition to restarting direct talks which ended in April 2014.

David Keyes, Netanyahu’s spokesman, underscored Israel’s position yesterday. He said: “Peace will be achieved through direct negotiations with our Palestinian neighbours, not through international conferences… Israel will not attend the French conference, because it will push peace further away”.

France had announced its intention earlier this year to host an international conference with the goal of agreeing the implementation of a two-state solution. An initial preparatory meeting of ministers from 29 interested countries, but excluding Israeli and Palestinian representatives, convened in Paris in June.

Abbas and the PA support the French initiative. Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Voice of Palestine radio yesterday that he hoped the conference would set a clear timeline for peace talks and implementation.

In the past few months, Netanyahu has stated several times his willingness to meet with Abbas anytime, anywhere and without preconditions.