Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat praised the French Mideast peace initiative on Friday, calling it a "step in the right direction""This is a step in the right direction what happened in Paris today. It is a message from the international community to the Israeli government that business as usual cannot continue, status quo cannot continue," Erekat told journalists in West Bank.A two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may soon be impossible, France warned on Friday as it held an international conference to revive the quest for a deal despite Israel's warning that the effort is doomed to failure.With US efforts to broker an accord in deep freeze for two years and Washington focused on its November presidential election, France hosted an conference with the aim of breaking the apathy over the impasse and stir new diplomatic momentum.
Palestinians have welcomed the French initiative but Israeli officials have said an international conference will not work and that only direct talks between the old foes can bring peace.
Neither Israel nor the Palestinians were invited to the conference, though the objective is to get them to negotiate after the US elections.