France works to restart talks toward Israeli-Palestinian peace

According to the May 8 London daily Al-Quds al-Arabi, a senior Palestinian official said the United States and the European Union are urging the Palestinian Authority to resume peace negotiations with Israel. Both the Americans and Europeans probably know, however, that given the composition of the new Israeli government and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' reaction to it, this is a "mission impossible." Yet, to unblock the peace process, an international proposal must at least be put on the parties' table.

A senior official at the French Foreign Ministry speaking on condition of anonymity told Al-Monitor of a visit by French senior officials to Ramallah at the beginning of May. The officials reportedly conveyed that a move at the UN Security Council would be more effective after a renewal of peace talks — or at the very least after significant efforts to revive the peace process — rather than immediately launching such an initiative. He said that Paris is keeping Washington informed of its diplomatic moves and plans. Perhaps surprisingly, the French official was hopeful that progress could be made.

"Abbas may want to show flexibility in order to facilitate later on a move by the international community. [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu may want a reasonable proposal to use it as a basis for a reshuffle of his Cabinet toward a national unity government with the Zionist Camp party," the official said.

Paris, and probably Washington, would like to advance such a tactical move to open the way for a peace process in the fall, after a nuclear agreement with Iran is finalized. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius is apparently adamant about the issue. According to this source, the French have in mind at least six main elements for their autumn initiative.