Paris - A major international conference to try to kick-start peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians is being held in the French capital, Paris. Delegates from 70 nations are expected to reaffirm support for a two-state solution to the decades-old conflict. Palestinians have welcomed the meeting but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - who is not attending - says the conference is "futile". The last round of direct peace talks collapsed amid acrimony in April 2014. Israel and the Palestinians have been invited to hear the conclusions of the meeting, but not to participate in the summit itself. It comes at a time of tension between Israel and the international community after the UN passed a resolution last month denouncing Israel's settlement activity on occupied land. Israel accused the Obama administration of engineering the motion and enabling it to pass by not using its power of veto in the UN Security Council. The White House denied colluding to get the resolution passed. Tensions have also risen over US President-elect Donald Trump's plans to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The status of Jerusalem is one of the most sensitive and complex issues of the entire conflict. The Palestinians view East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state but Israel proclaim the entire city as its capital.(FA)
