That the French were re-considering their move was first reported in the Post earlier in the week.
France denied Wednesday that it was backing away from plans to submit a timeline-linked UN Security Council resolution calling for a two-state solution based on the 1967 lines, following comments to the contrary by a senior Palestinian and a well connected American Jewish official.
“France has not given up," a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said at a daily press briefing. "A Security Council resolution would be useful to give a solid basis to new negotiations. But it must be consensual and then be implemented.”
The comments came after the spokesman was asked about a statement made a day earlier by Palestinians Authority Foreign Minister Riad Malaki, who said in an interview on a Palestinian radio station that the French have backed away from their idea of presenting a Mideast resolution largely because of US and Israeli opposition.
That the French were re-considering their move was first reported in The Jerusalem Post on Monday. Malcolm Hoenlein, the head of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, told The Post, “We’ve met with French officials and they’re telling us now that they’re essentially hesitant or reconsidering and don’t want to introduce it if it will face an American veto or if both parties don’t want it.”
According to Hoenlein, the French will be reluctant to submit a draft resolution if they feel the US will veto it, or if the Palestinians will not be satisfied with a “watered down” resolution that the Americans might be willing to let pass.