But peace was never farthest from the Israeli government’s mind, and now to liken the well-intentioned French initiative to some colonial designs is disingenuous, to say the least.
Advertisement
“The possibility of two states, Israeli and Palestinian, living side-by-side, in peace and security, grows more distant by the day”, French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault reportedly said after the meeting. However, he mentioned that direct negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians would be necessary to achieve a solution, Reuters reported.
The Chinese side has contributed to the capacity building of the Palestinians through humanitarian assistance, training, aid, etc, Wang explained, announcing that China will provide a humanitarian aid of 50 million RMB (7.61 million US dollars) to Palestine.
“The discussion on the conditions for peace between Israelis and Palestinians must take into account the entire region”, Francois Hollande told delegates at the opening of the conference in Paris.
“The status quo isn’t sustainable”, Dion said during a teleconference from Paris on Friday.
The initiative includes a peace deal between Israel and the Arab states and the establishment of “normal relations” in return for Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian lands occupied in 1967 and an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“The threats and priorities have changed”, he said, alluding to escalating Middle East conflict that has engulfed Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Turkey’s mostly Kurdish southeast and the spread of Islamic State insurgents through wide swathes of the region.
“The changes make it even more urgent to find a solution to the conflict, and this regional upheaval creates new obligations for peace”, Hollande said.
Earlier this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping during his speech given at the Arab League Headquarters called for efforts to resume peace talks at the political level and advance reconstruction on the economic front, Wang recalled.
“We’re not here to propose any kind of specific agenda”, a senior State Department official said.
Advertisement
Despite the recent escalation in violence between Israelis and Palestinians and their absence at the conference, the swearing in Monday of ultranationalist Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who said he supported a two-state solution, has provided a glimmer of hope.
