France calls on Israel to drop West Bank annexation plans

French President says Netanyahu’s plans to annex Palestinian territory would contravene international law, jeopardise possibility of two-state solution as basis of fair, lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

PARIS - Emmanuel Macron asked Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from annexing Palestinian territory during a telephone call between the two leaders, the French president's office said on Friday.

Macron "emphasised that such a move would contravene international law and jeopardise the possibility of a two-state solution as the basis of a fair and lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians", his office said in a statement after the call on Thursday.