Israel's Lieberman urges Jews to leave France

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Dec. 26 called on French Jews to leave their country to protest a Paris-hosted conference planned for next month aimed at restarting Palestine-Israel peace talks, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth has reported, according to state-run Anadolu Agency. 

The Israeli government has repeatedly stated in recent months that it would not participate in the conference, which is scheduled to be held on Jan. 15, 2017, with the participation of representatives from 70 countries. 

Speaking at a meeting of his right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, Lieberman reportedly said: "Perhaps it's time to tell the Jews of France, 'This isn't your country, this isn't your land. Leave France and come to Israel'." 

"That's the only response to this plot," Lieberman added, in reference to the planned conference.
        
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Dec. 27 that he hopes the upcoming Mideast conference in France will set a timetable to end settlements, as Israel moves ahead with new housing unit construction in east Jerusalem, despite the recent U.N. Security Council resolution condemning construction there.

Abbas's comments on Dec. 27 were his first public remarks since the U.N. vote on Dec. 23, during which the 15 countries of the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution demanding that "Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including east Jerusalem." 
"The decision lays the foundation for any future serious negotiation ... and it paves the way for the international peace conference slated to be held in Paris next month and we hope this conference comes up with a mechanism and timetable to end the occupation," Abbas told a...