France to recognize Palestinian state if negotiated solution fails: FM

PanARMENIAN.Net - France said on Friday, Nov 28 it was working with partners on a "final" diplomatic push to overcome the impasse between Israelis and Palestinians, including by setting a two-year timeframe to end the conflict through a UN-backed resolution, according to Reuters.

"If this final effort to reach a negotiated solution fails, then France will have to do what it takes by recognizing without delay the Palestinian state," Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told parliament.

Lawmakers are set to hold a symbolic parliamentary vote on Dec. 2 on whether the French government should recognize Palestine as a state, a move that Israeli Prime Minister has called a "grave mistake". The vote has raised domestic political pressure for the government to be more active on the issue.

Fabius told deputies that, were they to adopt the motion, it would not change Paris' immediate diplomatic stance.

But Fabius said France was working at the United Nations to get a resolution adopted that would set a two year timeframe to reach a negotiated solution. He also proposed an international conference in parallel to pressure the two sides.