British diplomats have expressed reservations about the outcome of a Middle East peace conference in Paris, saying it risked “hardening positions”. While the French-led conference involved some 70 countries, it did not involve any Israeli or Palestinian representatives. The closing declaration at the conference in Paris urged both sides to “officially restate their commitment to the two-state solution”. It also warned them against taking one-sided actions that could hurt talks, in an
apparent reference to Israeli settlement building. But Britain, which attended as an observer, did not back the final communique. A Foreign Office statement said: “We have particular reservations about an international conference intended to advance peace between the parties that does not involve them – indeed which is taking place against the wishes of the Israelis. READ MORE
