Summit tackles elusive Israel-Palestine peace
January 15, 2017
International effort to re-ignite moribund talks between Israelis and Palestinians under way in French capital.
Paris, France – A French-led effort to kick-start long-stalled discussions on a two-state solution between Palestinians and Israelis got under way with the two main players absent from the summit.
Though representatives from 70 countries and organisations arrived, hopes of a breakthrough in the stagnant peace process were low on Sunday without any representatives from either the Palestinian Authority or Israeli government at the “Conference for Peace in the Middle East” held in France’s capital, Paris.
“We are all aware of the need to mobilise to re-start the peace process,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault told the delegates.
“I’m fully aware of the reservations surrounding this conference and doubts about whether it should be held at this time. But there is no time to be lost.”
It is the second such meeting organised by the government of President Francois Hollande after a first in June, which was attended by more than 20 nations and groups.
“Mobilisation has constantly grown since the 3rd of June. This has already delivered some significant results,” said Ayrault.
