The French foreign minister has voiced her country's support for the formation of a Palestinian state and condemned Israeli settlements in the West Bank, Press TV reported.
"France supports the establishment of an independent, democratic Palestinian state as soon as possible," Michele Alliot-Marie said at the conclusion of her visit to the occupied Palestinian territories on Saturday, Ha'aretz reported.
She said her country does not recognize Israel's settlements in the occupied West Bank and called for the construction activity to come to a halt.
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana, and Uruguay are among over 130 countries that have recognized Palestinian statehood within the borders that existed before the Israel occupied the West Bank in the 1967 Six Day War.
Paraguay and Peru are also expected to follow suit in the coming weeks.
In December, the French foreign ministry declared a decision to recognize a free and independent Palestinian state based on borders before the 1967 war to become the first European nation to do so.