Alongside Abbas, Macron calls for resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks

French President Emmanuel Macron calls for a return to Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in a press conference alongside visiting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The French president stresses the need for the “renewal of direct political dialogue between the Israelis and the Palestinians.” He warns that violence could break out at any time and that negotiations may be a “difficult path, but we have no other alternative.”

Macron met with Prime Minister Yair Lapid in Paris two weeks ago in Lapid’s first overseas trip in office, and made similar comments then, stating that there “is no alternative to a resumption of political dialogue.”

In his own remarks, Abbas denounces Israeli activity and the killing earlier this year of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh “in cold blood without reason.”

“Who killed her? We want them to find out who did it,” he says.

He also repeats comments similar to those he made alongside US President Joe Biden in Bethlehem last week, urging a restart of talks based on a two-state solution.