French FM to visit Israel, Palestinian Territories

French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe will pay a two-day visit to the Middle East on June 2-3, for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders on the stalled Middle East Peace Process, the French Foreign Ministry official sources announced here on Monday. After consultations with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Italy, where he is on a visit, Juppe will fly to Israel on June 2 and meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Defence Minister Ehud Barak, in addition to holding talks with opposition leader Tzipi Livni. After Israel, the French Foreign Minister will head to Ramallah in the occupied territories to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, who is spearheading institutional and economic reforms in the territories and who has broad French support. Juppe will also hold talks with members of civil society in Ramallah and occupied Jerusalem during his visit. "With all actors he will meet, the State Minister will underline the urgency of a dynamic for constructive dialogue between the two parties to help a negotiated solution which is the only way to put an end to the current status quo," the French statement said. "Peace has been awaited for too long, even though the parameters for it are known," the French Foreign Ministry said.