France: Israel's incursion into Jenin will complicate situation

France warned of attempts to weaken the Palestinian Authority (PA) and said that the attempted storming of Jenin at dawn, Tuesday, would render indispensable dialogue more inaccessible.

In Press statements late Tuesday, Foreign Ministry assistant spokesman Bernard Valereau said his country remains convinced that the Palestinians and Israelis have no other option but to seek a political solution that would end confrontations and break the cycle of violence.

He warned that the closure of Orient House is not justified and contradicts with Israeli commitments during the signing of the Oslo Accords.

The official warned that the closure would increase tension in Al Quds (Jerusalem), voicing hope that the Israelis would return it as fast as possible.

France is closely watching regional development, said Valereau. He added that Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine sent a message to Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and had contacts with Foreign Minister Ahmad Maher as well as US State Secretary, Colin Powell and Palestinian Minister of International Cooperation, Nabil Shaath.