This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/03/middle-east-peace-talks-paris-israel-palestinians-john-kerry-ban-ki-moon
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Middle East peace talks to begin in Paris – without Israel or Palestinians | Middle East peace talks to begin in Paris – without Israel or Palestinians |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| US, European and Arab diplomats are meeting in Paris for a French-led effort to revive the Middle East peace process, though neither Israel nor the Palestinians are taking part. | US, European and Arab diplomats are meeting in Paris for a French-led effort to revive the Middle East peace process, though neither Israel nor the Palestinians are taking part. |
| France persuaded the US secretary of state, John Kerry, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, and foreign ministers and officials from nearly 30 other countries and international organisations to join the meeting to try to prevent an escalation of violence. | |
| Related: Israeli prime minister rejects French peace conference initiative | Related: Israeli prime minister rejects French peace conference initiative |
| The French hope Friday’s meeting could lead to direct talks. | The French hope Friday’s meeting could lead to direct talks. |
| The French president, François Hollande, who will open the conference, said on Thursday that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is in a “dangerous deadlock”. The meeting will allow participants to “reaffirm their commitment to the two-state solution and their determination to create the conditions for resumption of direct talks,” he said. | The French president, François Hollande, who will open the conference, said on Thursday that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is in a “dangerous deadlock”. The meeting will allow participants to “reaffirm their commitment to the two-state solution and their determination to create the conditions for resumption of direct talks,” he said. |
| Kerry and Ban will be joined by representatives from the European Union, the Arab League and key countries in the region such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. | Kerry and Ban will be joined by representatives from the European Union, the Arab League and key countries in the region such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. |
| The Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has publicly rejected the idea of an international conference, saying the longstanding conflict can be resolved only through direct negotiations. | |
| The Palestinian prime minister, Rami Hamdallah, welcomed the French initiative. | The Palestinian prime minister, Rami Hamdallah, welcomed the French initiative. |
| France’s foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, told Le Monde newspaper that he hoped for two outcomes from Friday’s conference. First, the prospect of another peace conference that would include the Israelis and the Palestinians by the end of the year. | |
| Second, the creation of working groups to prepare for potential direct talks. One would focus on economic incentives, another on security guarantees that could help convince the two parties to return to the negotiation table. | |
| The core issues of the conflict will not be discussed during Friday’s conference. | The core issues of the conflict will not be discussed during Friday’s conference. |
| France hopes to start a “pragmatic” process in the hope of making “step by step” progress, a French diplomat said, praising the “modest approach”. | France hopes to start a “pragmatic” process in the hope of making “step by step” progress, a French diplomat said, praising the “modest approach”. |
| Another French diplomat added: “We know the path is difficult, the goal will be hard to reach. But we considered it’s worth trying.” | |
| Both officials were speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to disclose the content of talks ahead of the conference. | |
| The most recent round of talks broke down two years ago. The Palestinians, with much of the international community, have accused Netanyahu of undermining peace talks by continued settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem – territories where they hope to establish an independent state. | The most recent round of talks broke down two years ago. The Palestinians, with much of the international community, have accused Netanyahu of undermining peace talks by continued settlement construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem – territories where they hope to establish an independent state. |