BETHLEHEM, June 24, 2008, (WAFA)-President Mahmoud Abbas affirmed on Tuesday that the Palestinian people look forward to the French role to make the birth of a Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital reality on the ground and to be free from occupation settlement and violence in order our people can achieve their freedom and self-determination as the case of all the peoples of the Earth.

In a joint press conference in Bethlehem with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, President Abbas stressed the need to lift the injustice done to our people and raise the daily suffering and the release of prisoners from Israeli jails as well as ending the Apartheid Wall and stop the policy of confiscating land and settlement.

Abbas also urged Europe to exert active political role in the Middle-east peace process.

President pointed out to  the suffering of prisoners in Israeli jails and to the dangers of Israeli settlement in the Palestinian territories, saying that there are 11 thousand prisoners languishing in Israeli prisons and there is escalation in the pace of settlement, which threatens the peace process.

As for his part, President Sarkozy stressed France's support for the absolute President Abbas, who he described him as a man of peace and a partner must always be supported.

President Sarkozy said that   the security of Israel and a Palestinian state are equal in importance, stressing the desire of France to see a modern Palestinian state and stop settlement building including in Jerusalem.

French President stressed that the injustice done to the Jews should not fall on the Palestinians, stressing that France is a friend of the Palestinian people.