The ambitious French idea first suggested by Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius at the end of January of holding an international conference to kick-start the two-state solution process in Paris in July is alive and kicking. A senior Western diplomat in Jerusalem told Al-Monitor that the initiative to restart Israeli-Palestinian talks has been adopted by the new French Foreign Minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault.
The diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that efforts in Paris, Tel Aviv and Ramallah as well as in other Arab capitals are in high gear to make the conference successful. Ayrault, who was chosen by President Francois Hollande on Feb. 11 to replace Fabius, moved quickly to assure all parties involved of the seriousness of the French effort.
