Palestine reiterates support to French peace initiative

The Palestinian authority reiterated on Monday its full support to a French initiative aiming to hold an international conference to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.

The Palestinian side "wants specific references to the peace process, which are present in the relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, the signed agreements, the Road Map and the Arab peace Initiative," Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said following a meeting between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the French envoy Pierre Vimont at the West Bank city of Ramallah.

Erekat accused Israel, which has rejected the peace initiative, of obstructing the bilateral relations, saying "its option is dictations and settlements and not peace."

He said Israel wants to "replace the two-state solution option with two regimes," which is "the main source of danger in the region."

Also on Monday, the Palestinian president spokesperson Nabil Abu Rdeinah said that Israel's rejection to the French initiative sent a message of undermining the international community.

"The international community must take a decisive stance to put an end to this occupational policy, which is the key reason behind instability in the region and has led to the involvement of all world countries in the happiness in the Middle East and the creation of endless wars," said Abu Rdeinah.

For his part, Vimont said France "will work with all parties and listen to all international and regional parties to ensure the success of the conference."