Netanyahu rejects French peace conference as Valls visits Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected French attempts to organise an international conference to restart Middle East peace talks.
At a meeting with French Prime MinisterManuel Valls he proposed bilateral talks with the Palestinians instead.
At the start of his meeting with Manuel Valls in Jerusalem on Monday,Netanyahu reiterated his view that direct talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders would be more effective than a regional conference with many participants.Valls arrived in to Israel on Sunday and is also scheduled to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.Netanyahu told Valls that the current French initiative does not give the Palestinians reason to renew the negotiations with Israel – it gives them a route to evade negotiations.
At a meeting with French Prime MinisterManuel Valls he proposed bilateral talks with the Palestinians instead.
At the start of his meeting with Manuel Valls in Jerusalem on Monday,Netanyahu reiterated his view that direct talks between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders would be more effective than a regional conference with many participants.Valls arrived in to Israel on Sunday and is also scheduled to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.Netanyahu told Valls that the current French initiative does not give the Palestinians reason to renew the negotiations with Israel – it gives them a route to evade negotiations.