Updated

The French foreign minister says France will recognize a Palestinian state if its efforts to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks fail.

Minister Laurent Fabius told French diplomats on Friday that France will prepare for an international conference to bring together the two parties and their American, European and Arab partners in order "to make happen a two-state solution."

If this attempt faces a deadlock, Fabuis say that France will have to recognize a Palestinian state.

France's Socialist government supports the idea of two states, but had previously argued that it was too early for outright recognition of a Palestinian state.