French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced Friday that France will try to convene an international peace summit in the next few weeks to renew diplomatic efforts between Israeli and the Palestinians. Fabius threatened that should the diplomatic offensive fail, France will formally recognize a Palestinian state.
“France will engage in the coming weeks in the preparation of an international conference bringing together the parties and their main partners, American, European, Arab, notably to preserve and make happen the solution of two states, ” Fabius said, according to Reuters.
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Speaking in Paris at a conference of French diplomats, Fabius said “unfortunately, settlement construction continues. We must not let the two-state solution unravel. It is our responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.”
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, France, Fabius said, has a responsibility to continue to find efforts to a two-state solution between the Israelis and Palestinians.
There were reports earlier this week that France has been attempting to bring together Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.
“France will engage in the coming weeks in the preparation of an international conference bringing together the parties and their main partners, American, European, Arab, notably to preserve and achieve the two-state solution, ” he said.
“If this attempt to achieve a negotiated solution reaches a dead end, we will take responsibility and recognize the Palestinian state, ” said Fabius.
Peace talks between the two have been stalled since 2014.
France would join several European countries that have already recognised Palestine, including the UK and Sweden.
