DEAUVILLE (EJP)---French President Nicolas Sarkozy said that the establishment of a Palestinian unity government does not negate the need for Palestinians to recognize Israel and its right to exist in security.
Speaking at a press conference at the G8 Summit in Deauville, he said the reconciliation between Palestinian factions is "good news" and urged Israel to restart peace talks because the current status quo only plays into the hands of extremists and terrorists.
The president said he is dispatching French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe to the Middle East with a message from France in coming days in order to press for the resumption of peace talks.
Sarkozy pointed to the "contradiction to have said for years that peace wasn't possible because the Palestinians were divided and now that they are trying to get closer, to say: 'We won't talk with them because they are getting closer.'"
He expressed his support for US President Barack Obama's position on the Middle East as outlined in his speech last week. "This was a very courageous speech," he said.
Leaders of the G8, the world's richest nations, are to call for an end to the violent repression of revolts in Syria and Libya and urge immediate Israel-Palestinian peace talks.
The final declaration was discussed over lunch and at an afternoon round-table session hosted by President Nicolas Sarkozy for the leaders of Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.
Addressing Bashar al-Assad's regime, the leaders urged Damascus to end violent repression and carry out reform, as they sought ways to encourage democracy in their first meeting since the "Arab Spring" uprisings.
"We call on the Syrian leadership to stop using force and intimidation against the Syrian people and to engage in dialogue and fundamental reforms in response to the legitimate expression of the demands of the Syrian people," the draft, obtained by AFP, said.
A massive security operation involving 12,500 police and gendarmes, backed by boats and spotter helicopters, smothered the chic resort of Deauville on the northern French coast as the leaders arrived at the seafront venue.