French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who is hosting an international meeting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Friday, said direct talks between the two parties "do not work".

"Currently everything is blocked. We don't want to act in the place of the Israelis and Palestinians but we want to help them," he told France Info radio.

Neither side will be present for the talks, aimed at creating "a climate of trust" to encourage the Israelis and Palestinians to come together.