France considers recognition of a Palestinian state

France is looking to quickly revive plans for an global conference to “bring about the two-state solution” to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Friday.

The Palestinians welcome the French call “for serious global involvement towards ending the Israeli occupation that began in 1967”, the PLO’s negotiations affairs department, led by chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, said in a statement. “If this attempt to achieve a negotiated solution reaches a dead end, we will take responsibility and recognize the Palestinian state”, Fabius said, according to France 24.

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“We see that unfortunately colonisation continues and that recently, the Israeli Prime Minister went so far as to reproach the UN Secretary General for encouraging terrorism on the basis that he had reminded of colonisation’s illegality and asked that it cease”, Fabius said.

Peace talks collapsed in April 2014 and since then, the situation has deteriorated, with the prospects of fresh dialogue appearing more remote than ever.

Fabius said continued Israeli settlement construction on land that Palestinians want for a future state threatens a political agreement and requires a French response.

Previous year he failed in efforts to get the United States on board to push for a U.N. Security Council resolution to set parameters for talks between the two sides and set a final deadline for a deal.

Israel’s U.N. Mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “It is our responsibility as a U.N. Security Council member and a power seeking peace”, Fabius told an annual gathering of foreign diplomats.

“The U.S. position on this issue has been clear”.

Palestine has non-member observer status at the United Nations and its flag flies with those of member states at UN headquarters in NY.

In October of 2014, Sweden became the first European Union nation to recognize Palestinian statehood, followed shortly by the UK.