France says Abbas' remarks on Holocaust "inappropriate"

PARIS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- France on Thursday regretted Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' recent remarks on Holocaust, calling for "the utmost responsibility in the public expressions of each of the parties" to help resume peace talks.

"France shares the emotions roused by these remarks by President Abbas. We deplore them and consider them false, unfortunate and inappropriate," said foreign ministry's spokesperson Agnes Von der Muhll.

"France calls on all parties to act in a spirit of peace and dialogue, in order to create the conditions needed for a fair and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians," she added.

Earlier this week, Abbas told a meeting that the Nazi genocide of Jews in Europe during World War II was caused by their financial activities and social conduct, not due to anti-Semitism.

Palestinians started massive protests along the Israeli border with the Gaza Strip late March against Israeli occupation and blockade. Scores of Palestinian protesters had been killed so far.

The last direct peace negotiations stopped in April 2014 as rival camps failed to come out with tangible results due to differences on major issues like settlement, security, borders and the recognition of a Palestinian state. Enditem