Unofficial transcript 
Agenda item 37 “Question of Palestine”, November 29, 2012

FRANCE:  Mr. President of the General Assembly, Secretary General, Mr. President of the Palestinian Authority, ministers, ambassadors, colleagues, in voting today for the recognition of Palestinian as a nonmember observer state of this organization, France has voted in favor of the two-state solution, of two states for two peoples, Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and in security, within secure and internationally recognized borders in favor of a solution that we advocated before the entire international community rallied to it, in favor of a solution today threatened by an impasse in the peace process.  It's a choice of enlightenment and consistency.   
As early as 1982, before the Knesset in Jerusalem, President Mitterrand called for a creation of a Palestinian state.  Since then, France has spared no effort to promote this solution.  It's part of its history whereby President Hollande in 2012 has committed himself to support the international recognition of the Palestinian state.  
France could not miss this rendezvous, which is a new stage towards the two-state solution.  France could not fail to hear the appeal of President Abbas for the resumption of a credible peace process.
We could not fail a few days only after the new explosion of violence between Israel and Gaza to give our full support to peace partners, as those espousing armed struggle endeavor to win the day.  The Palestinian plan comes at a difficult moment when the repercussions could be very weighty.  But France calls upon all parties to understand and admit to its initial significance and to answer by resuming negotiations and not through reprisals that would only suit extremists.
We also call upon the international community, Americans, Europeans, Arabs, to mobilize themselves to make a contribution to it.  France also calls upon the Palestinians to build upon this political success to contribute to the prospects for peace.  Contribute to prospects for peace, first of all, means to continue to combat terrorism and to do everything possible to put an end to the attacks that have too often victimized Israel, progress on the basis of -- of the PLO towards inter-Palestinian reconciliation is necessary, without which a two-state solution is but a mirage.
Contributing to the prospects for peace means going back to the negotiating table immediately and without preconditions.  And it means not opening up a cycle of sterile confrontations in international bodies because the hardest part is before us, before them.  
Reality must be given to this vision of two states for two peoples.  International recognition being granted today by this assembly for the Palestinian state proposal can only be actualized if there is an agreement, which comes from negotiations between the two parties on all final status questions as part of a fair and comprehensive peace settlement, a peace settlement that meets the legitimate aspirations of Israel and of Palestine.  
It's a challenge addressed not only to the two governments and to the two peoples, but also to the international community.  France is prepared to take up this challenge in friendship to both Israel and to Palestine.  Thank you.