MAJOR POWERS WARN ISRAEL, PA AGAINST UNILATERAL MEASURES HARMFUL TO PEACE:

Some 70 countries on Sunday 15 Jan. 2017 reaffirmed that only a two-state solution could resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and warned they would not recognize any unilateral steps by either side that could prejudge negotiations. The final communique of a one-day international Middle East peace conference in Paris shied away from explicitly criticizing plans by president-elect Donald Trump to move the USA Embassy to Jerusalem, although diplomats said the wording sent a "subliminal" message. Trump has pledged to pursue more pro-Israeli policies and to move the USA Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, all but enshrining the city as Israel's capital, despite international objections. Countries including key European and Arab states as well as the permanent members of the UN Security Council were in Paris for the conference, that Israeli PM Netanyahu rejected as "futile." Neither the Israelis nor the Palestinians were represented. The final statement said interested parties would meet again before year-end. But Netanyahu told a cabinet meeting on Sunday that "this conference is among the last twitches of the world of yesterday. Tomorrow will look different and that tomorrow is very close." (J.Post)