Netanyahu condemns Paris summit as 'rigged' against Israel

French president Francois Hollande adjusts his glasses as he delivers his new year address to diplomats, at the Elysee Palace in Paris,Thursday, Jan. 12 2017. Hollande says Sunday's Mideast peace conference in Paris aims at ensuring the support of the international community for the two-state solution as a reference for future direct negotiations. (Ian Langsdon, Pool via AP) (The Associated Press)

French president Francois Hollande delivers his new year address to diplomats, at the Elysee Palace in Paris,Thursday, Jan. 12 2017. Hollande says Sunday's Mideast peace conference in Paris aims at ensuring the support of the international community for the two-state solution as a reference for future direct negotiations. (Ian Langsdon, Pool via AP) (The Associated Press)

Israel's prime minister is condemning an upcoming conference in Paris aimed at reviving the Israel-Palestinian peace process.

Benjamin Netanyahu said during a meeting with Norway's foreign minister on Thursday: "It's a rigged conference, rigged by the Palestinians with French auspices to adopt additional anti-Israel stances. This pushes peace backwards. It's not going to obligate us. It's a relic of the past. It's a last gasp of the past before the future sets in."

The Palestinians have welcomed the French initiative, which takes place Sunday.

Netanyahu insists the conflict can only be resolved in direct peace talks and has repeatedly called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to resume them. Abbas refuses unless Israel ends settlement construction first.

The U.S. mediated the last round of talks, which collapsed in 2014.