Fabius says no point to UN peace resolution if vetoed by US

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says there is no point in proposing a United Nations Security Council resolution on Palestinian statehood if it’s going to be vetoed by the US.

Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem right after his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Fabius says Paris’s plan to submit such a resolution is not intended to replace bilateral negotiations.

Fabius explains that the United States “has played, is playing, and will play a role” in the peace process.

“In order to avoid any misunderstanding: We’re not trying to make peace instead of the parties themselves. They will need to find an agreement themselves,” he states.

Both Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas are generally willing to resume peace negotiations, according to Fabius. He adds, however, that it will not be easy to actually restart talks.

Fabius continues that he discussed several ideas on how to prod the conflicting parties to make the necessary steps to get back to the negotiating table. Besides the UN Security Council resolution, Fabius mentions a committee of prominent countries — including Arab states — to take on this task.

— Raphael Ahren