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France Backs US-Proposed Israel-Palestinian Peace Deal
France Tuesday expressed its support for the compromise deal proposed by US President Bill Clinton to Israel and Palestinians to reach a peace agreement, describing it as the best that can be worked out now.
Spokesman of the French Foreign Ministry Francois Rivasseau said that although the Clinton proposal is not perfect, there exists no "credible alternative."
"Is there a better solution which can come out for a foreseeable term? I don't think so," he said.
The spokesman called on Israel and Palestinians to take their responsibilities for their people and history.
"The European Union, for its part, is ready to do all of what is expected of it," he said.
The US proposal includes Israeli concession of sovereignty over much of East Jerusalem and the Al-Aqsa mosque to Palestinians, while Palestinians give up the right of return for Palestinian refugees and keep 95 percent of the land of the West Bank and 100 percent of the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat are due to give their formal answer to the proposal Wednesday.
If they accept the proposal, they must sign a peace agreement before January 20, when Clinton ends his term as the US president.
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