JERUSALEM, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- Relations between Israel and France have hit an all time low over Jerusalem's failure to extend the West Bank settlement building freeze, European sources say.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is furious because Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu refuses to extend the settlement freeze in an effort to move the peace talks with the Palestinians forward, two European diplomats told Haaretz Sunday.
Sarkozy is also angry about Netanyahu's last minute decision not to attend a summit in Paris with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other dignitaries, the diplomats said.
Haaretz says Sarkozy also revealed to other European leaders the contents of a recent telephone conversation with Netanyahu.
Sources at Netanyahu's bureau denied the claims and described the telephone conversation between the two leaders as "a routine call between friends," the paper said.
The sources told Haaretz blame should be directed toward the Palestinians who continue to demand certain preconditions be met before resuming peace talks with Israel.
