(MENAFN- Qatar News Agency) Paris January 30 (QNA) - French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius announced Friday that France will try to convene an international peace summit in the next few weeks to renew diplomatic efforts between Israeli and the Palestinians. Fabius threatened that should the diplomatic offensive fail France will formally recognize a Palestinian state.
Speaking in Paris at a conference of French diplomats Fabius said "unfortunately Israeli settlement construction continues. We must not let the two-state solution unravel.It is our responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council." Fabius noted that France hopes the international peace summit will be attended by Israelis and Palestinians as well as other international actors.
"France will engage in the coming weeks in the preparation of an international conference bringing together the parties and their main partners notably to preserve and achieve the two-state solution" he said.
"If this attempt to achieve a negotiated solution reaches a dead end we will take responsibility and recognize the Palestinian state" said Fabius. (QNA)