France mulls recognising Palestine
French President Nicolas Sarkozy hosted Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas in Paris yesterday as Europe reflects more and more openly on the prospect of recognising an independent Palestine.
Any French move to welcome a Palestinian state into the community of nations would be made jointly with the European Union, and would be seen as an attempt to give a jolt to the stalled Middle East peace process with Israel.
Thus far, most world powers have been reluctant to recognise Palestine before it becomes a viable entity within agreed borders, but now some are starting to think recognition could revive the stalled search for peace.
French Foreign Minister Juppe said France was working with its European Union partners to try to get Israelis and Palestinians "back around the negotiating table" and that this could lead to statehood recognition later this year.
Comments