French FM calls decision to recognise Palestine "ill-timed"

French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné has said that the decision of Spain, Norway and Ireland to recognise Palestine is an untimely step.

"This decision should be useful - in other words, to make possible decisive advances in political terms. From this point of view, it should happen at the right moment, so that there is a 'before' and an 'after'," the foreign minister told France Presse.

Sejourne stressed that France is not against the very idea of recognising Palestine as a sovereign player on the world stage.

However, he added that the current situation does not predispose to such a decision.