French FM demands Israel's troop pullback

Following a meeting with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and within the course of his three-day visit to the region, French Foreign Minister Hurbert Verdine expressed the hope that Israel will soon pull back its troops from a significant area of the occupied West Bank.

He added that he expected a halt to unilateral action (a reference to Israel's setting up of Jewish settlements, the demolition of Palestinian homes and the confiscation of Arab lands).

On Monday the French Foreign Minister expressed to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu France's deep concern about the stalemate in the Israeli - Palestinian peace track, noting hope for a substantial Israeli troop redeployment soon in the occupied West Bank to help restart the peace process.