Internal political developments in Israel, should not
overshadow the peace process with the Palestinians, visiting French Foreign
Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Sunday, according to dpa.
"Don't forget the peace process," he urged in an interview with
Israel Radio. "I know about all your concerns, internal political concerns
... but please, what is important for us, for you, for everybody, is the
setting up of a Palestinian state."
The meeting comes as Foreign Mnister Tzipi Livni is in the midst of
negotiations to form a new government in wake of the resignation, two weeks
ago, of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Kouchner had earlier told the Ha'aretz daily in an interview published on Sunday
morning that "the roots of all the pretexts in the area is the Palestinian
struggle and the necessity of the Palestinian state.
"If there is a perception coming out of the Palestinian people that things
are getting better and moving a bit - this is an additional asset to calm down
this main danger which is Iran. To cut the reason and the roots of the Middle
East anger," he continued.
Kouchner met with Palestinian leaders on Saturday and on Sunday held talks with
Israeli officials. He was slated to meet Livni in the late afternoon.
In the interview with Ha'aretz, Kouchner said that he estimated Israel will
likely bomb Iran before Tehran can develop nuclear weapons.
"I know that some people in Israel and in the army are preparing a
military solution or not a solution but a military attack. I don't know. This
is not, according to my opinion, the solution," he said.
Kouchner said that while "Iran with an atomic bomb is unacceptable",
the way to prevent this eventuality was though "talking, talking, talking,
and offering dialogue, sanctions, sanctions, sanctions. "
"Is the alternative to bomb first - I think not," he said.
"War is never a solution," he went on, " but sometimes I know it
has been used, so let me be precise - we are not absolutely desperate - we have
to start trying to get some allies, isolating [Iranian President Mahmoud)
Ahmadinejad, trying to help the people in favor of more modernity," he
said.