French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Saturday Israel must stop settlement activity in order to make progress in U.S.-backed peace talks with the Palestinians, Reuters reported. "We are totally against the settlement policy. There can't be a trust between the two sides while settlement activity is going on," Kouchner said after meeting Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Kouchner said he will discuss the settlement activity on Sunday during a series of meetings with Israeli leaders. Abbas told reporters negotiations with the Israelis "have started on all issues of all final status talks" -- including borders, the future of Palestinian refugees and Jerusalem. Earlier on Saturday while visiting the city of Bethlehem, Kouchner said the establishment of a Palestinian state was "the only way for Israel to be secure".
