French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Thursday he would visit Israel and the Palestinian territories in June, as he plans to submiit a resolution in the UN that would set a timeframe and parameters for renewed peace talks.
"We are for a two-state solution. We need to ensure Israel's security that's obvious. There is no peace and security without justice for the Palestinians, but let's be frank justice hasn't been given to the Palestinians," Fabius told France Inter radio.
"I will go ... to Egypt, the Palestinian territories and Israel to speak to their leaders," he said. "We want the negotiations to restart between the two sides .’’
The resolution being drafted by France, which is expected to be brought before the UN Security Council later this summer, calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with certain land swaps agreed upon by the parties, and Jerusalem serving as the capital of both nations.
It sets a timetable of 18 months for a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians and threatens French recognition of Palestine should negotiations fail, according to daily newspaper Le Figaro.
The document formulated by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius says the sovereignty of the demilitarized Palestinian state must be guaranteed, with a gradual Israeli pullout from Palestinian territory. It also says Israel’s security concerns must be addressed, and any Palestinian arms-buildup or terrorist activity prevented.
The resolution also states that a “just, balanced and realistic solution” to the issue of Palestinian refugees must be found, based chiefly on a mechanism of compensation to those displaced. It also reportedly references Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand that Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state, a stipulation that has so far been rejected by the Palestinian leadership.
Le Figaro said that France is currently holding consultations over the document with members of the Arab League as well as certain Security Council members.
The resolution is not expected to be brought before the UN before July, so as not to interfere with international efforts to reach a final agreement with Iran to curb its nuclear program — the deadline for which has been set at June 30.