France seeks U.N. resolution on Israel and Palestine

UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (UPI) -- France will initiate discussions leading to a United Nations resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict, the French foreign minister said Friday.

Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, speaking at the United Nations in New York before leaving for Geneva, Switzerland, to participate in talks with Iranian representatives regarding a nuclear treaty, said France will begin discussions in the "coming weeks" to establish a structure for peace. A U.N. Security Council resolution, drafted by France, Germany and Britain, was presented last year but its discussion was postponed until after Israel's March 17 election. "We have said that these parameters have to be defined and recognized by the Security Council and that obviously the two parties have to discuss, but the discussion will be accompanied by an international effort. Today nothing has moved forward, (there remain) still development of settlements, the Palestinians are in a more and more difficult situation and we cannot stay like that," Fabius said.

Palestinians seek a state of their own in Gaza, the West Bank and in East Jerusalem, areas held since 1967 by Israel. The majority of U.N. members regard Israel's construction of settlements on these properties as illegal.

French and Israeli representatives met in Paris last week, but neither side said the potential U.N. resolution was discussed. Instead, Israeli officials said they sought a better understanding of the negotiations with Iran, although Israel is not a party to the Iran talks.