Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Nation & World


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Originally published June 25, 2009 at 5:11 AM | Page modified June 25, 2009 at 8:56 AM

Comments (0)     E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

Netanyahu, French officials discuss peace efforts

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met France's prime minister and foreign minister Thursday, wrapping up a trip marked by differences with Washington and Paris over Jewish settlements.

Associated Press Writer

PARIS —

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met France's prime minister and foreign minister Thursday, wrapping up a trip marked by differences with Washington and Paris over Jewish settlements.

Netanyahu has been pressing his bid for a demilitarized Palestinian state in his meetings in Italy and Paris, and says the idea is gaining international ground.

He held closed-door meetings Thursday with French Prime Minister Francois Fillon and Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner. Fillon's office provided no details of the discussions.

Kouchner planned to "remind (Netanyahu) of France's expectations concerning the peace process, which we want quickly restarted," according to a statement from Kouchner's office ahead of the meeting. Kouchner was heading later Thursday to a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Trieste, Italy, where Mideast tensions and Iran's postelection unrest were expected to be high on the agenda.

Netanyahu had another meeting planned in Paris that fell through: He had planned to see the top U.S. Mideast envoy, but called it off in an apparent sign of growing friction over President Barack Obama's call for a halt to construction in Jewish settlements.

The U.S. position could spell political trouble for Netanyahu, whose government depends on patrons of the settlers.

A statement from Netanyahu's office said the meeting with George Mitchell, which had been scheduled to take place in Paris on Thursday, would be put off while Israeli Defense Minster Ehud Barak meets Mitchell in Washington next week and tries to bridge the gaps. An aide traveling with Netanyahu said Jewish settlements were "one of the issues which needs to be worked on."

In talks with Netanyahu on Wednesday, French President Nicolas Sarkozy echoed Obama and insisted on a complete and immediate end to construction in Jewish settlements.

The French president, who defines himself as a friend of Israel but whose country has traditionally good relations with much of the Arab world, urged faster action toward creating a Palestinian state.

Netanyahu leaves France on Thursday afternoon for Tel Aviv.

Copyright © The Seattle Times Company

More Nation & World headlines...

E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

Comments
No comments have been posted to this article. Start the conversation.

advertising


Get home delivery today!

More Nation & World

NEW - 11:28 PM
Obama puts heat on Senate to speed health bill

Fitting public policy into push for fitness

Sole Republican to vote for bill knows price

The day The Wall finally came down

Imam: Mosque not linked to hijackers

Advertising

Video

Mourners gather at KeyArena for slain officer's memorial
Mourners gathered at KeyArena for the memorial service of Seattle police Officer Timothy Brenton on November 6, 2009.

Procession for slain SPD officer
Election Night: Approve R-71
Election Night: Reject R-71
Election Night: Joe Mallahan
Election Night: Mike McGinn
Election Night: Susan Hutchison
Election Night: Dow Constatine
Candlelight vigil for Officer Brenton
Flying Elephant on Aurora

Marketplace

nwautos

2009's most fuel-efficient sedansnew
Choosing a new sedan? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment

Open Houses

Find this weekend's open house listings.
Or search by location:

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 
Advertising