Israel rejects France’s effort to revive talks with Palestine

World Today

Israelis and Palestinians were noticeably absent, as foreign ministers from 29 countries met in Paris to discuss the Mideast peace process.

Israel’s Prime Minister has criticized the French initiative, but the chief Palestinian peace negotiator described it as a last glimmer of hope.

CCTV’s Stephanie Freid reports.

Open borders, shared security, Palestinian territory under Arab sovereignty, Israeli territory run by Israel. The vision: Two States, One Homeland — where people can live wherever they want.

Palestinian and Israeli activists have been working on the plan for four years. They say that instead of changing the reality on the ground, they aim to change the ideas people have in their heads.

Under the plan, Jewish settlers could stay on Palestinian land as long as they agreed to live in a Palestinian state under Arab rule

The scheme still needs to address key points: including Palestinians right of return and the status of Jerusalem.

The team criticizes using people’s security as a bargaining chip and wants to change the paradigm of discussion.

As the Paris conference gets underway, Israel’s Prime Minister is signaling openness to a 14-year-old Saudi peace plan promising normalized Arab state relations with Israel in return for a Palestinian peace deal.


Matt Duss discusses an alternative Mideast peace plan

To discuss the current state of the Israeli and Palestinian peace process and alternative peace plans, CCTV America’s Nathan King spoke with Matt Duss, president of Foundation for Middle East Peace.