Israel would consider invitation to peace talks with Palestinians
Israel would consider a French invitation to peace talks with the Palestinians, but believes France has made a mistake by saying it will recognize a Palestinian state if the talks fail, an Israeli government official said on January 30.
"If and when we get an invitation to a conference, we will examine it and respond to it," the official, who declined to be named, said in a statement.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told foreign diplomats on January 29 that if the conference he proposes hit a wall, "well ... in this case, we need to face our responsibilities by recognizing the Palestinian state".
The Israeli official dismissed the idea, saying: "Why would the Palestinians budge on even a comma in a conference if they already know that, without making progress, they will get what they want?"
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking to African leaders at a summit in Ethiopia, urged them to back France's conference plan.
But two Israeli cabinet ministers, both allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel should boycott such a meeting.
Despite anger in the US administration over Israeli settlement building, there is little prospect of President Barack Obama supporting any initiative that could upset the US Jewish lobby 10 months before an election.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called Israel's expansion of Jewish settlements in occupied land "provocative" and said that it raises questions about its commitment to a two-state solution.
