The French Foreign Minister met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders and said an upcoming Paris summit aimed at restarting peace talks will proceed, despite Israeli objections that direct negotiations are the only way forward. Paris is to host an international meeting of 20 countries, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan on May 30, to discuss the peace process. Israel and the Palestine have not been invited.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas during his one-day visit to Jerusalem yesterday.
Mr Netanyahu said, direct negotiations, without preconditions, are the best way to reach a final agreement.
The last round of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, mediated by the United States, collapsed in 2014.