An international conference to tackle the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the best way to bring peace, French President Francois Hollande declared after meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Paris.

Earlier this year France proposed such a conference. Hollande said he hoped it would bring together countries with an interest in the conflict, within a specified time frame.

"This process implies a certain order and a certain calendar. Firstly, bring together all the partners, of course the Quartet but also other countries who are conscious of the situation and who want to participate in the solution. And we will work to bring together first of all, the foreign ministers of those countries, and then see how we can work with the interested parties. But this initiative serves the peace process, this initiative doesn't intend to block any steps but at the same time we think that it's the best course of action," he said at a press conference.

Hollande is set to depart for a four-day trip to the Middle East which will take in Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt.

Abbas offered his support to the French initiative to widen participation and organize a conference.

"We also confirmed to the president that the settlements was the major obstacle to peace and that's why we're going to pursue our contact with France and with the countries involved, bearing in mind the committee of the Arab Quartet is working out the best time to present a draft resolution about the settlements to the (UN) Security Council," he added.

The Palestinian people are "suffocating" under Israel's policies, Abbas told Hollande at their meeting.

According to Israel Radio, Abbas said he had described to Hollande how Israel's "occupation and settlement expansion" create "suffocating and difficult" living conditions for the Palestinian people.