AKIPRESS.COM - France has announced it will recognize a Palestinian state if new attempts to restart peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians fail, reports Radio Australia.

French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said France would attempt to hold an international peace summit bringing together Israeli and Palestinian parties to renew diplomatic efforts between the two countries in the next few weeks.

If those failed, France would "take responsibility" and recognize the Palestinian state, the Foreign Minister said.

Speaking in Paris, Fabius criticized Israel settlement construction in the Palestinian West Bank.

"We must not let the two-state solution unravel," he said. "It is our responsibility as a permanent member of the UN Security Council."

The United States, EU and UN have all issued unusually stern criticism of Israel in recent weeks, provoking a sharp response from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and raising Palestinians' hopes of steps against their neighbor.