The French summit, which is set to include representatives from 20 countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, was due to take place on May 30 but was postponed by France so that US Secretary of State John Kerry would be able to attend. “He (Ayrault) told me that the (UNESCO) decision stemmed from a misunderstanding and that he would personally ensure that it would not recur.” .
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Netanyahu had met French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and discussed the “scandalous resolution accepted at UNESCO with France’s support, that does not recognize the bond of thousands of years between the Jewish people and the Temple Mount”, he told ministers ahead of the weekly cabinet meeting.
Israel does not support the resumption of peace talks being promoted by France over concerns that an worldwide forum would try dictate terms for a deal.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu poured cold water on the French plan saying that only direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians could help reach genuine agreements.
Israeli authorities on Tuesday demolished two Palestinian-owned homes in Wadi al-Jouz neighborhood in Jerusalem, under the pretext of construction without a permit, according to local sources.
US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to journalists before a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault in Paris, Monday, May 9, 2016. I note that this option is blocked.
France is rightly describing its peace move as a first step towards defusing the “powder-keg” threatening to explode in the Middle-East with Israel persisting with its repressive and expansionist policies.
Palestinians also marched in several cities in the occupied West Bank.
He went on to stress that France was still pushing for an global peace conference aimed at resuming the stalled Mideast peace process, with a view to “stopping the terrorist attacks, political disputes and colonization that continue to plague the region”.
Asked by the Israeli left-wing activists about the French initiative for peace in the Middle East, Abbas said “We hope that the French initiative would be fruitful and can find a fair solution to the Palestinian cause”, adding “I really can find an explanation on why some of you reject the French initiative”.
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The suggestion that Kerry may participate, should a suitable alternative date be found, marks a shift for the administration, which up to now has said merely that it was looking at the French proposal. European Union members, Russia, and Japan have also been included, Haaretz reported.
