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Middle East direct talks 'do not work', France insists Middle East direct talks 'do not work', France insists
(35 minutes later)
French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has insisted that direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians do not work.French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault has insisted that direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians do not work.
He was speaking before a French-led conference aimed at reviving the peace process began in Paris.He was speaking before a French-led conference aimed at reviving the peace process began in Paris.
Officials from the Middle East Quartet, the UN, Arab League and other countries are attending the discussions.Officials from the Middle East Quartet, the UN, Arab League and other countries are attending the discussions.
But Israel and the Palestinians will not participate.But Israel and the Palestinians will not participate.
Little optimismLittle optimism
"Currently everything is blocked," Mr Ayrault said ahead of the conference."Currently everything is blocked," Mr Ayrault said ahead of the conference.
Sykes-Picot: The map that spawned a century of resentmentSykes-Picot: The map that spawned a century of resentment
Is one homeland the solution?Is one homeland the solution?
How to untie diplomacy's Gordian knot?How to untie diplomacy's Gordian knot?
"We don't want to act in the place of the Israelis and Palestinians but we want to help them," he told France Info radio. "We don't want to act in the place of the Israelis and Palestinians but we want to help them," he told France Info radio.
The hope is that representatives of about 25 countries and various international organisations will be able to lay foundations for a fully-fledged peace conference at the end of this year.The hope is that representatives of about 25 countries and various international organisations will be able to lay foundations for a fully-fledged peace conference at the end of this year.
The consensus among diplomats appears to be that any effort to revive the peace process is better than nothing at all, correspondents say, even though few are optimistic that concrete results will be forthcoming.The consensus among diplomats appears to be that any effort to revive the peace process is better than nothing at all, correspondents say, even though few are optimistic that concrete results will be forthcoming.
However senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat in an opinion piece on Friday described France's bid to revive the peace process as bringing "a flicker of hope" for a resolution to the conflict. However senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat in an opinion piece on Friday described France's bid to revive the peace process as bringing "a flicker of hope" for a resolution to the conflict.
Analysis: Jeremy Bowen, BBC Middle East editor
The Seine has flooded after days of torrential rain. The attention of Paris is on the weather, not the chances of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. That must be reassuringly normal after the violence in this city at the end of last year.
The French President, Francois Hollande, said that with terrorism spreading around the world it is essential to push once again for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
President Hollande delivered a stern warning. Violence is rife, he said, and hope is diminishing. People should not fool themselves that the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has become a peripheral issue just because of the turmoil elsewhere in the region.
The president is right. The conflict between the Palestinians and the Israelis is as full of poison as ever and can still create new international crises.
Do not expect breakthroughs in Paris. But at least world powers are once again talking about a problem that will not go away.
There have been numerous rounds of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians since the early 1990s, with the most recent collapsing in acrimony April 2014.There have been numerous rounds of peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians since the early 1990s, with the most recent collapsing in acrimony April 2014.
The Palestinians accused Israel of reneging on a deal to free prisoners, while Israel said it would not continue negotiations after the Palestinians decided to bring the Islamist Hamas movement into a unity government.The Palestinians accused Israel of reneging on a deal to free prisoners, while Israel said it would not continue negotiations after the Palestinians decided to bring the Islamist Hamas movement into a unity government.
Israel has rejected the latest meeting and called for direct negotiations.Israel has rejected the latest meeting and called for direct negotiations.
Diplomats say Friday's meeting brings together all the economic incentives and other guarantees that various countries have offered in previous years to create an agenda for an autumn peace conference.Diplomats say Friday's meeting brings together all the economic incentives and other guarantees that various countries have offered in previous years to create an agenda for an autumn peace conference.
French diplomatic sources quoted by AFP said the talks would focus on the 2002 Saudi peace initiative, which offered Arab recognition of Israel in return for the creation of a Palestinian state in territories occupied by Israel since 1967.French diplomatic sources quoted by AFP said the talks would focus on the 2002 Saudi peace initiative, which offered Arab recognition of Israel in return for the creation of a Palestinian state in territories occupied by Israel since 1967.
On Monday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Saudi plan included "positive elements". He has called for "direct negotiations without preconditions between the sides".On Monday Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Saudi plan included "positive elements". He has called for "direct negotiations without preconditions between the sides".
However, the managing director of Israel's foreign ministry, Dore Gold, likened the French talks to the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement, which carved up the Middle East between colonial powers.However, the managing director of Israel's foreign ministry, Dore Gold, likened the French talks to the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement, which carved up the Middle East between colonial powers.
US Secretary of State John Kerry is attending the talks but Reuters news agency quoted a US official as saying the US did not have any new proposals to put forward.US Secretary of State John Kerry is attending the talks but Reuters news agency quoted a US official as saying the US did not have any new proposals to put forward.
Some of the most intractable issues include the status of Jerusalem, Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and Palestinian statehood.Some of the most intractable issues include the status of Jerusalem, Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and Palestinian statehood.