PARIS, May 14 (Xinhua) -- French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Monday called on Israel to exercise restraint after more than 40 Palestinians were killed in violent clashes on the Gaza border.
"France calls on all actors to show responsibility in order to prevent further unrest," Le Drian said in a statement.
"France again calls on the Israeli authorities to exercise discretion and restraint with respect to the use of force, which must be strictly proportionate," he added, stressing that "the duty to protect civilians, especially minors, and the right of Palestinians to demonstrate peacefully."
Le Drian also disapproved of the U.S. decision to move its embassy to Jerusalem which he said "contravenes international law and in particular the UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions."
"There is an urgent need to recreate the conditions needed to find a political solution, in a regional context already marked by heightened tensions," the French FM said.
He recalled that the status of Jerusalem should be determined via talks to reach fair and lasting peace in the region where Jerusalem should be the capital of two states living side by side.