France/Israel - Netenyahu talks with Sarkozy

Netanyahu in Paris for Sarkozy talks

Article published on the 2009-11-11 Latest update 2009-11-11 14:42 TU

Benjamin Netanyahu to meet President Sarkozy on Wednesday
(Photo: Reuters/Jason Reed)

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Paris for talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Iran and the crisis in the Middle East peace process.

Netanyahu, who met with US President Barack Obama earlier in the week, faces criticism for his support for Jewish settlement building on Palestinian land.

On Tuesday, the French French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said a "real political difference" separates Sarkozy and Netanyahu on the issue, and renewed calls for an immediate freeze on construction.

"We think that a freeze on settlements, that's to say no more colonisation while talks are ongoing, would be absolutely indispensable," Kouchner told France Inter radio. "We need talks and the peace process to restart."

Kouchner, who is due to visit Israel and the Palestinian territory next week, is worried that Israelis have given up hope of a negotiated peace.

"It seems to me, and I hope I'm wrong, that this aspiration has disappeared as if no one believes in it any more," he said.

Before meeting Sarkozy, the Israeli premier first held talks with French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde.

"The prime minister presented his ideas on the need for the international community to find technological alternatives to petroleum and how to use energy to create more water," a senior Israeli official said afterwards.

"He wanted to see France as part of the effort and he invited the French government and companies to be involved in the challenge."