PARIS, Aug 27 (AFP) - French President Jacques Chirac on Friday sharply criticized the international community's failure to help put an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying the world should "impose" peace talks.
"For how long will the world accept this tragedy that is crushing lives and peoples, that does damage to the development and stability of a region that is essential for the security of all, that is creating a gulf of resentment and lack of understanding between cultures, civilizations, religions?
"It is essential that the international community assume its responsibilities," Chirac told his country's ambassadors and top diplomats, closing a two-day meeting of the envoys in Paris.
The French leader said the world must "take stock of the disastrous results of its inaction and free itself of its false caution" with respect to the moribund Middle East peace process.
He urged the international community to "finally say in plain language that terrorism and denial of others are reprehensible and should be condemned and fought without weakness, but that occupation and colonization are unacceptable and must stop."
Recalling that the ultimate goal was the creation of a Palestinian state peacefully co-existing with Israel, Chirac said: "We must encourage, maybe even impose the resumption of a negotiations process between the parties."
The European Union -- along with Russia, the United States and the United Nations -- is a member of the so-called diplomatic "quartet" that has sponsored the roadmap for Middle East peace, which has resulted in next to no progress.
"Now we must move forward, as peace is possible. The world can no longer wait for goodwill on one side or the other," Chirac said.
The French president called for an international presence in the Gaza Strip, from which Israel plans to evacuate settlers and withdraw troops next year, reiterating French and EU willingness to participate in such a mission.
But Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said in Paris this week that while the European Union could help rebuild Gaza, talk of an international presence was premature: "We don't think now is the time to deal with it."