Arab foreign ministers welcomed the French initiative and France's attempt to encourage both Israeli and Palestinian factions to the negotiations table.
By JPOST.COM STAFF, TOVAH LAZAROFFUpdated: MAY 29, 2016 09:33Arab League discuss French MidEast peace initiative
The Arab league supported on Saturday France's Middle East peace initiative and all international efforts to create lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, AFP reported.The meeting took place between several Arab foreign ministers and and was held in the Arab League headquarters in Cairo. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas was also in attendance.Arab foreign ministers welcomed the French initiative and France's attempt to encourage both Israeli and Palestinian factions to the negotiations table.Speaking before the ministers, Abbas said that the time has come to "mobilize Arab and international wills" towards creating a Palestinian state, however said in order to do so Israel would have to make serious policy changes.Abbas called for NATO forces to replace the IDF in the West Bank as part of as part of any peace deal that leads to the creation of a two-state solution. He also rejected the idea of recognizing Israel as a Jewish state.The meeting took place in advance of a June 3 ministerial meeting in Paris that will launch a new French-led peace initiative that would set the parameters for renewed negotiating process.