Pierre Vimont, France's point man on efforts to hold an international peace conference by the summer, held talks Tuesday in Ramallah with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, foreign minister Riad al-Malki and top negotiator Saeb Erekat, AFP reports.
"The French ideas are timely, the French ideas are realistic and the French ideas are the only thing in town, and those who care about peace between Palestinians and Israelis must fully support the French ideas," Erekat said.
France launched the effort earlier this year to host an international conference to revive peace talks. It initially vowed to recognize a Palestinian state if talks failed, but French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault later said the recognition would not be automatic.
Vimont on Monday met Israeli foreign ministry director general Dore Gold, a close ally of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.