Israel satisfied at US "icy stance" toward French initiative

GAZA, June 7 (KUNA) -- Israel expressed relief on Tuesday vis a vis US reservations toward a recently-proposed French plan to host negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis.
Israel Radio, citing unnamed official sources, indicated that the French initiative would not succeed for Paris had proposed it unilaterally, without involvement of Paris' partners in the European Union (EU).
The Israeli sources indicated that the Tel Aviv government would favor to pursue efforts with Washington for sake of resuming the Middle East peace process that has been sponsored by Washington for a long period of time, during which the process has witnessed downward and upward turns.
However, on the Palestinian side, President Mahmoud Abbas declared, last Friday, his acceptance of the French initiative, designed to resume the peace negotiations that has been halted since seven months ago.
The French have proposed hosting such talks in the end of the summer, the date set by the Palestinian leadership to press for an international recognition of the aspired independent Palestinian state -- unilaterally. Israel has emphatically rebuffed such an approach and Washington has stood on its side in this respect.
As to his reading of the French plan, Abbas indicated that it genuinely implied the vision of US President Barack Obama as to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with the 1967 border lines.
Regarding Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared, on Sunday, that his government was studying it in consultation with the US, and reiterated Tel Aviv's rejection of the aspired pullout to the 1967 borders, echoing hard-line stances he has recently taken during a visit to Washington where he bluntly said "no" to Obama's perspective regarding the withdrawal issue.
US Secretary of Hillary Clinton gave a cool welcome Monday to the French plan to host the Middle East peace conference, saying it must be linked to willingness to resume talks.
Clinton made the negative remarks toward the plan following talks with her French counterpart, Alain Juppe, in Washington.
Israeli leaders, namely Netanyahu, have categorically rejected the notion of withdrawing to the 1967 lines, arguing that such a move would endanger Israel's security, and remained adamant on maintaining settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, as well as barring the Palestinians to establish a state with all basic features and institutions.
The Palestinians had established a form of self rule following peace talks in the early 90s, however Israel opposed to further moves to allow them to establish a fully liberated independent entity in the West Bank and Gaza. (end) mzt.rk KUNA 071005 Jun 11NNNN