PARIS, February 7, 2017 (WAFA) – French President Francois Hollande said on Tuesday that Israel’s so-called “regularization bill” contradicts with the two-state solution.

Speaking at a press conference in Paris with his guest, President Mahmoud Abbas, Hollande said if the Israeli High Court, which is supposed to review the “regularization bill” after it was contested by human rights organizations as illegal and violates Palestinian land rights, approves the law, “it will open the door for the annexation of the Palestinian land, which contradicts with the two-state solution.”

He said, however, that the Israeli government still has a chance to go back on this decision and return to negotiations, which he said are the only way to achieve peace and the establishment of a Palestinian state.

Hollande called for avoiding the Middle East further conflicts and not to take unilateral steps by any country, particularly the new US administration, which could have dire consequences particularly on the Palestinians.

He called for a bigger European role not only in the finances but also on the political level.

He said he discussed with Abbas a wide range of subjects that were of interest to both countries, stressing that France will continue to help in building the Palestinian Authority institutions and provide aid on all levels.

M.K.