French President Jacques Chirac on Friday held telephone talks with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, urging him to resume dialogue with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said a statement issued by the French presidential office.

Chirac backed the efforts Abbas had made a commitment to, toward forming a unity government under the 1993 Oslo peace accords, while calling for Israel to lift blockades on Palestinians, said the statement.

During the talks, the French president briefed Olmert on France's position regarding issues surrounding the resumption of the Middle East peace process and the promotion of mutual trust between Israel and the Palestinians, it added.

Their talks also touched upon the Lebanon issue and the all-around implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, aimed at halting the Israel-Lebanon hostilities, the statement said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 23, 2006)