Proposed peace conference: an attempt to kill Palestinian intifada?

Proposed peace conference: an attempt to kill Palestinian intifada?
French proposals to convene peace talks between Palestine and Israel have been met by diverse reactions from Palestinian factions, ranging from optimism to doubt.
3 min read
01 February, 2016
France will recognise a Palestinian state even if the talks are unsuccessful [Getty]
Proposals for an international peace conference put forward by the French foreign minister seek to once again bring together Palestinian and Israeli parties, along with their US, European and Arab partners, to determine a way forward with the two state solution. 

But reaction from different representatives of Palestinian factions have cast cynicism over the process with some suggesting it is a mere attempt to quell the latest uprising.

The move by the French government comes as the latest sign of Western frustration over the lack of progress towards a two-state solution following the breakdown of the US-brokered negotiations in 2014.

France will recognise a Palestinian state if the talks are unsuccessful, its Foreign minister announced on Friday, in a move that angered the Israeli Prime Minister.

"I assess that there will be a sobering up regarding this matter," Binyamin Netanyahu said on Monday, "We are prepared to enter direct negotiation without preconditions and without dictated terms."

But the Palestinian leadership welcomed Fabius' announcement as President Mahmoud Abbas showed optimism over the French initiative to convene an international peace summit to resume peace talks.

"The region will not enjoy security and stability unless the Israeli occupation and settlement activities end," Abbas said.

"The Palestinians will not accept the theft of our natural resources and the non-utilisation of our lands or the investment in them," he added.

Abbas' optimism was reflected by leading member of Palestine's Fatah political party.

The region will not enjoy security and stability unless the Israeli occupation and settlement activities end

-Mahmoud Abbas


"The French proposals for an international conference are based on a two-state solution and the recognition of the state of Palestine according to its 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital," Faisal Abu Shahla told The New Arab.

Fatah will support all international efforts which seek to help the Palestinian people reclaim their rights amid the current restrictions placed by Israelis on Palestinian territories, Abu Shahla said.

But other Palestinian factions were cynical over the French proposals, which they considered a "time wasting" initiative which had been previously tested and proven futile.

On Monday, Israeli forces sealed off the city of Ramallah in the West Bank leaving tens of thousands of Palestinians unable to reach work, universities, schools and their families amid the blockade.

"How can the Palestinian authority participate in negotiations in the backdrop of such Israeli crimes?" Yahya Moussa, a Hamas leader and chairman of the Legislative Council's Oversight Committee, told The New Arab.

How can the Palestinian authority participate in negotiations in the backdrop of such Israeli crimes?


"The French initiative and other proposals that calling for the return of peace talks and negotiations are mere attempts to contain the uprising that started four months ago," Moussa said.

Others have argued a necessary change in Israeli policies are first required before talks have a chance to succeed.

For negotiations to happen, new conditions and foundations must be placed, analyst Talal Oukal told The New Arab.

"Israel must halt its aggression against the Palestinians before sitting around a negotiation table," Oukal said.

It will be difficult for France or any other state to play a productive role in resuming peace talks between Palestine and Israel in the light of current Israeli aggression.

At least 164 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since October, 32 of them under the age of 18.

Israel says a Palestinian campaign of incitement is fanning the violence.

The Palestinians say it is rooted in frustration stemming from nearly five decades of Israeli occupation.