The foreign ministers of France and Spain said in Jerusalem Sunday that they are optimistic about the chances of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, the current impasse in the negotiations notwithstanding, DPA reported.
"We are optimistic. It takes time, it always takes time in this region, but this is a delicate moment where we can make an effort and make progress in direct talks and in peace," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said as he and Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos met Israeli President Shimon Peres.
Moratinos, for his part, said the optimism is due to the fact that despite "the difficulties and concerns of the two sides," they sent "a clear and strong message to the international community that they want to keep up the momentum, keep an open door to direct talks, and they are ready to move on to significant matters."
"We arrived here with a clear purpose, and that is to bring the Israeli and Palestinian sides to peace," he added.
The Israeli-Palestinian direct peace talks, relaunched only at the beginning of last month, are currently in limbo over Israeli construction in its West Bank settlements.
A 10-month partial freeze on the construction, declared by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last November, ended at the end of September without being renewed. Palestinians say they will not resume the negotiations unless and until it is.
Kouchner and Moratinos also met Sunday with Defence Minister Ehud Barak and Netanyahu.
On Monday, they are scheduled to travel to Jordan where they will meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.