Abbas to French envoy: Palestinian Authority contacting int’l parties about peace conference
The Palestinian leadership has already promoted to international parties the French plan to hold a multilateral conference on the conflict, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told French envoy Pierre Vimont in Ramallah on Tuesday. Abbas added that the Palestinians are also talking with international parties about the ways to achieve a two state solution […]
Paris attack suspect Salah Abdeslam shot in Brussels and captured alive
‘It is not the final conclusion of this story because there have been arrests already and there will have to be more. ‘We know the terrorists’ network was widespread in Belgium, France, and other countries in Europe, too. ‘Until we have arrested all of those who took part, organised and financed the network […]
Erekat: Palestinians would lose most if French peace push failed
PLO Secretary General Saeb Erekat said on Tuesday that there was no French initiative for peace in the Middle East, but only ideas for holding an international conference. Erekat’s remarks came after he met in Ramallah with French envoy Pierre Vimont. The French emissary is scheduled to meet later with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud […]
Brexit Could Bring Calais ‘Jungle’ To Britain
The Calais “jungle” refugee camp could be relocated to Britain if the UK chooses to leave the European Union, according to France’s economy minister. In an interview with the Financial Times, Emmanuel Macron warned that Brexit would threaten the bilateral relationship between the UK and France. He said the Le Touquet Agreement, which […]
French nuke carrier for sea-air drill with Egypt ahead of Libya offensive
The French nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is steaming through the Red Sea on its way to the Mediterranean via the Suez Canal for joint maneuvers with the Egyptian navy in preparation for a reduced coalition offensive against Islamic State’s deepening grip on Libya. DEBKAfile’s military sources, reporting this, say it will be the […]
EU migrant crisis: Brussels leaders bicker as refugee violence flares in Calais and Greece
As tear gas rained down on rioting migrants in Greece and France bickering countries squabbled over who should take the blame for the spiralling crisis which shows no sign of slowing. Once again the cavernous divisions between different EU countries were laid bare for all to see, with Angela Merkel angrily defending Germany’s role […]
EU set to emit 2bn tonnes more CO2 than Paris climate pledge
The EU is set to emit 2bn tonnes more CO2 than it promised at the Paris climate talks, threatening an agreement to cap global warming at 2C, a note from the European commission has revealed. Carbon prices will rise too slowly to cut industrial emissions as much as needed, says a confidential note prepared […]
PA welcomes French peace initiative
France, which announced the initiative late last month, has threatened to unilaterally recognize the “State of Palestine” if its peace efforts fail.”We definitely welcome the French initiative, we see it as a major possibility for challenging the status quo,” Hossam Zomlot, an advisor to PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas, told reporters, according to AFP. Zomlot, however, […]
Cameron Takes `Brexit’ Case to EU’s Center as Hollande Digs In
Prime Minister David Cameron took his case for an overhaul of the terms of Britain’s membership of the European Union to Brussels Tuesday as the French government digs in its heels over aspects of his reform agenda. Cameron met with senior European Parliament members including the body’s president, Martin Schulz, and the heads of the […]
French ultimatum to Israel: Accept PA demands
The French government is planning an international peace conference to reach a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) – and it appears that France is placing the burden of reaching a settlement on Israel. On Tuesday French officials met with representatives of both Israel and the PA to present the basic […]