'’It is important that between friends we can speak openly. We understand how important direct negotiations are for Israel and it is the role of the international community to create the conditions to advance these direct negotiations,” said Gérard Larcher, President of the French Senate, who is on a visit to Israel this week.

He told reporters that his country is not preparing any "secret proposal" to submit to the United Nations following the upcoming French-led Paris Middle East peace conference, scheduled for January 15.

"There is no secret proposal prepared by France at the UN after the Paris conference," Larcher, who belongs to the French opposition center-right Republicans party, said.

"The Paris conference is a start and not a culmination," he added.

Larcher's comments follow concerns expressed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday that decisions taken at the Paris conference could be presented to the UN or Middle East Quartet – made up of the UN, United States, European Union, and Russia.

"The first effort we are engaged in right now is to avoid another UN resolution, as well as prevent a Quartet resolution," Netanyahu said.

During his visit, Larcher met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin who spoke with him of the challenges faced by Israel and Europe, and democracies around the world.

In reference to the proposed Paris conference, Rivlin said, “We appreciate France’s concern, and attempts to bring an end to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Yet, it must be very clear, there are no shortcuts in the Middle East. The solution to the conflict requires two things; to build trust between the sides, and direct negotiations between the two sides,” and added, “Without trust, no solution will work. Without negotiations, no solution can be reached”.

Israel has repeatedly opposed the idea of an international conference to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has pushed instead for direct talks between the parties.

President Rivlin spoke in relation to the resolution adopted at the end of last onth by the UN Security Council on Israeli settlements and noted : “The current debate in the international arena - and the UNSC decision especially - are not helping us build trust. This is pushing us further away from peace.”

Larcher responsed by saying : “I have come with a message of friendship. Even when there are disagreements we must continue to speak. You have described the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians as a tragedy, a tragedy which can be ended through speaking. It is important that between friends we can speak openly.’’