Egypt: France pushing for Palestinian-Israeli peace conference

France has been in contact with international bodies to hold a special international conference to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed.

A spokesman for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Ahmed Abu Zeid, said that Paris has proposed to hold meetings with regional and international players “to discuss the general framework for the peace conference”.

“The French proposals are still in the process of crystallisation,” Abu Zeid was quoted as saying

“The meeting will take place with the participation of Palestinian and Israeli sides, next summer,” he said.

The Arab League will meet on Wednesday to discuss several issues, including support for the French initiative with the participation of the Arab Ministerial Committee led by Egypt.

The Palestinian Authority representative in the Arab League said in a statement that the committee will meet in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, to discuss submitting a joint Arab draft resolution on the illegal Israeli settlements.

The statement said the settlements represent “an obstacle to peace and the two-state solution,” adding that the committee will call for international protection for the Palestinian people.