Paris announced its planned trilateral peace conference with the PA (Palestinian Authority) and Israel months ago, and Israel’s immediate and subsequent responses have been the same. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has explained that he is willing to resume diplomatic talks with the PA at any time providing both sides come to the table without preconditions.

However, French President Francois Hollande seems to feel he can pressure Israel into attending, hopeful his country will succeed in jumpstarting talks between Israel and the PA.

Despite Israel’s clear response, numerous times, the conference is set to begin on December 21, 2016. The French daily Le Figaro reports that the Prime Minister Called President Hollande this week to inform him Israel is not going to participate, which has been his position over the past months.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)