Sarkozy’s comments were published shortly before his meeting with visiting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, who is touring Europe to rally opposition against the Palestinians’ decision to form a unity government. Netanyahu said it is impossible to talk peace with a government that includes the Islamic militant group Hamas.
But so far, Netanyahu appears to be making limited progress. Western governments have called on Hamas to moderate its views but are also urging Israel to make a new push for peace.
Speaking to the weekly newsmagazine L’Express, Sarkozy was quoted as saying if talks between Israel and the Palestinians do not resume over the summer, France will help promote the international recognition of a Palestinian state.
“The idea that we have time is a dangerous idea,’’ Sarkozy said. “We must finish.’’
Speaking briefly to reporters after leaving the Elysee Palace, Netanyahu was unconvinced.
“A serious quest for peace can only happen through negotiations’’ between Israel and the Palestinians, “not a UN dictat,’’ he said.
And he suggested he had no doubts about Hamas’s intentions.
“Hamas unfortunately remains committed to our destruction and remains committed to pursue the war of terror,’’ he said. “In fact, what is being discussed [by the Palestinians] today is to create a Palestinian state in order to improve the positions from which Hamas wants to drive Israel to the sea.’’
He said the idea of a state should be to end “the conflict as Israel and anybody interested in peace wants,’’ not “to continue the conflict as Hamas wants.’’
If Palestinian national unity “is unity for peace then we would be the first to support it,’’ Netanyahu said “But if it’s unity to move away from peace and to pursue the battle for Israel’s eradication then obviously we oppose it, and so should everyone else.’’
