French President Francois Hollande. Photo: Wiki Commons.

At a news conference with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah on Monday, French President Francois Hollande called on Israel to completely stop settlement construction or risk another round of fruitless peace talks.

“For the sake of peace and to reach a deal, France calls for the total and definitive end to settlement building because it compromises the two-state solution,” Hollande said.

Hollande arrived in Israel for meetings with President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday during which he said further goodwill gestures by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority were necessary.

“Israel started releasing prisoners, but gestures are needed on the settlements issue as well,” Hollande said during a meeting with President Shimon Peres.

Hollande was expected to bring up the issue of Palestinian Authority gestures with PA President Mahmoud Abbas in their meeting on Monday.