Israel-Palestinian ‘solution’ to be put to UN Security Council: France
Francois Hollande says negotiations have gone on too long, and sides must reach ‘durable peace accord’
A “solution to the conflict” between the Israelis and Palestinians will be put to the UN Security Council, French President Francois Hollande said Friday after meeting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Paris.
“We will have a resolution, to be presented to the Security Council, that will say very clearly what we expect from the (peace) process and what the solution to the conflict must be,” Hollande told reporters in a joint news conference with Abbas.
The French president said that stop-start negotiations had gone on “too long” and “there is a perception that there will never be a solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even though we know the outlines” of a possible deal.
The most recent Hamas-Israel confrontation, which in July and August killed 2,140 Palestinians — roughly half of which Israel says were gunmen — and 72 Israelis, mostly soldiers, was “the third time that Gaza has been destroyed,” Hollande said.
“What we must look for is a durable peace accord,” he said, adding that stalled peace talks “must now reach their end.”
Abbas urged “all countries to assume their responsibilities to end a conflict that has lasted more than 66 years.”
“Making peace will give added legitimacy to the fight against terrorism in the region,” he added.
Abbas, who is trying to build support ahead of a new Palestinian diplomatic push within the United Nations, said that France could give impetus to an Arab League-backed plan calling for an end to Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and the formation of a Palestinian state based on pre-1967 lines.
After France, Abbas is to go on to New York to participate in the annual UN General Assembly starting September 24.
The Palestinians, who have already won observer state status in the world body, are threatening to join the International Criminal Court, which could open the way to them urging the prosecution of Israeli officials for “war crimes.” Hamas, which indiscriminately fired 4,600 rockets at Israel during the 50-day summer conflict, would also be vulnerable to prosecution.
