Europe ups pressure on US over Mideast

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Europe ups pressure on US over Mideast

Thu Apr 21, 3:09 pm ET

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) – France said Thursday that European nations are

considering recognizing a Palestinian state, heightening pressure on the United

States and Israel to relaunch the Middle East peace process.

European ambassadors at the UN Security Council joined the Palestinian envoy in

calling for " bold " US leadership to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

" Recognition of the state of Palestine is one of the options which France is

considering, with its European partners " in a bid to relaunch the peace

process, " French ambassador Gerard Araud told a Security Council debate on the

Middle East.

Britain also indicated that state recognition could be considered.

" Nothing is off the table with regard to recognition in September, " said a

British spokesman. " But nor are we specifying what conditions would be

necessary, or sufficient, to recognize, or indeed not to recognize -- we'll have

to look at all relevant factors at the time. "

Pressure has mounted on US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister

Netanyahu amid heightened Palestinian-Israeli hostilities and a US

block on European attempts to break the deadlock.

Obama will soon make a speech on the Middle East conflict, diplomats said while

adding that details on US plans remain vague.

" We expect that in a couple of weeks the president will have an opportunity to

talk in more depth about the Middle East and North Africa, " a senior US official

said ahead of Thursday's UN Security Council debate.

At the meeting, US ambassador Rice reinforced US calls for the Palestinian

leadership to return to direct talks, frozen since last September amid

recriminations over Israeli settlement building.

" Negotiations between the parties remain the only path to a solution that

resolves all issues and establishes a sovereign state of Palestine alongside a

secure state of Israel, " Rice told the Security Council, without mentioning

Obama's plans.