Representatives from more than 70 countries and organisations gathered in Paris are expected to throw their weight behind a two-state solution in the Middle East and echo United Nations condemnation of Israeli settlements.
A draft declaration seen by DPA and expected to be released at the conclusion of the conference on Sunday calls for a “negotiated solution with two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security”.
The timing of the talks is highly symbolic, coming just five days before Donald Trump is to be inaugurated as US president.
Some members of the US Republican party have slammed the UN over a Security Council resolution adopted in late December condemning the settlements.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who blasted the talks and refused to attend, has said that he will only consider direct negotiations with the Palestinians, and appears to be holding out for an about-turn in Middle East policy under Mr Trump.
French President Francois Hollande, who will speak at the conference, said last week that he recognised bilateral negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians would be the way forward.
Read the full article by AAP at The Australian Financial Review.