70 states to be invited to Paris peace conference: Palestinian diplomat

Palestinian Ambassador to France Sulieman Al-Herfi said on Monday that 70 states will be invited to attend an international peace conference slated for mid-December in Paris.

The conference will be held at the level of foreign ministers, Al-Herfi told official Voice of Palestine radio.

He said France "did not and will not back off from holding the meeting as reported by some media outlets."

Asked about the U.S. stance on the conference, the diplomat said "it is not possible for the U.S. not to attend an international meeting in which 70 states are expected to take part."

The U.S. participated in the Paris meeting in June despite its hesitation, he added.

Al-Herfi said that the conference will "set a timetable to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories."

Paris hosted an international ministerial meeting on June 3, which was attended by the foreign ministers of 25 countries, including four Arab states. It debated the revival of the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians.

The last round of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, sponsored by the U.S, collapsed in April 2014, after nine months of futile efforts. Endit