France insists on holding peace conference before yearend: Palestinian official
Xinhua, November 22, 2016 Adjust font size:
France is determined to hold an international conference for peace in the Middle East before the yearend regardless of Israeli and U.S. objection, the Palestinian foreign minister said Tuesday.
"The conference will be held in France on Dec. 15 at the level of foreign ministers," Reyad al-Malki told official "Voice of Palestine" Radio.
The Palestinian side is in full contact with the French side in this regard, he said.
It is unclear if the United States would join the conference or not, while Israel opposes the principle.
Al-Malki expected that France will delegate its foreign minister or its envoy to the Middle East to visit the Palestinian territories within the coming few days to follow up preparations for holding the conference.
In June, an international ministerial meeting was held in Paris and discussed preparations for holding an international conference for peace with Israel. It was attended by 25 foreign ministers, including four Arab ones.
The last round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, sponsored by the United States, collapsed in April 2014, after nine months of futile efforts. Endit