Paris: French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he will support a unilateral declaration of Palestinian independence if peace talks with Israel don't restart by September, dealing a tough setback to Israel's campaign to isolate the incoming Palestinian unity government.
The comments published Thursday — similar to a message from Britain a day earlier — suggest Europe may be inching toward a watershed moment, joining those in favour of recognising Palestine even if there is no peace deal with Israel.
However, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated Thursday that she is opposed to any unilateral move.
"We [Germany] don't think unilateral steps are further helpful," she said after meeting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Berlin.
Sarkozy's comments were published shortly before his meeting with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is touring Europe to rally opposition against the Palestinians decision to form a unity government. Netanyahu says it is impossible to talk peace with a government that is set to include Hamas.
Limited progress
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 don't 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, we must finish," Sarkozy said.
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 dictate," he said.
And he suggested he had no doubts about Hamas' intentions.
Egypt to oversee security talks
A senior Egyptian intelligence official will oversee talks between the rival Hamas and Fatah on reshaping their security forces, a Palestinian official said yesterday.
The unity agreement signed this week called for a security oversight committee to work out the details of the thorny issue of reforming the partisan security forces who have battled each other in the past.
"We were informed today by Egyptian officials of the formation of a panel of experts including General Ebrahim Mohammad, the deputy chief of Egyptian intelligence," said Yasser Al Wadiah, an independent politician from Gaza. Wadiah returned Thursday night from Cairo where he had attended the signing of the surprise reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah.