The French initiative involves holding a meeting of foreign ministers from a range of countries, including US Secretary of State John Kerry, on June 3, but without the Israelis and Palestinians present.
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Private cement deliveries to the Gaza Strip resumed on Monday after Israel lifted a almost two-month ban it imposed over the alleged diversion of materials by an official in the Palestinian territory.
“I know of your friendship to Israel and your commitment to Franco-Israeli relations, your stalwart position against anti-Semitism and that of Francois Hollande”, Netanyahu said.
Valls’ statements came in a joint press conference with Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Al-Hamdallah in Ramallah, in which he said “we support all that would enhance a direct, genuine and constructive dialogue that goes in the right direction”. Netanyahu’s only proposed adjustment is that he would “Sit alone directly with President Abbas in the Élysée Palace, or anywhere else that you choose”.
Jewish settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under worldwide law and built on land the Palestinians see as part of their future state. “Every hard issue will be on the table”.
Valls has been visiting the region in a bid to raise support for the initiative.
Israeli and Palestinian authorities are not invited to the first meeting of the planned peace conference and both have already said they would not attend regardless of an invitation.
On June 3, Paris plans to host a ministerial meeting of 20 countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, as a first step towards renewing Israeli-Palestinian peace talks within the framework of an global conference.
France’s plan calls for a June 3 worldwide conference in Paris without Israeli or Palestinian representatives, followed by a fall conference with the two sides in attendance.
“Peace just does not get achieved through global conferences”, Netanyahu said. “Netanyahu is trying to buy time. but this time he will not escape the global community”.
Some 600,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and annexed east Jerusalem in constant tension with 2.8 million Palestinians.
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“The Palestinians will have the possibility to build a state of their own, but this state must be demilitarized and recognize Israel as the Jewish state”, he told parliament. He said that the French initiative “will not encourage peace…”
