ISTANBUL In a joint letter on Tuesday, 34 former ambassadors urged France to take the initiative again in the Middle East, the French daily Le Monde reported. "It is time for France to take the initiative again on this issue, ten years after Sweden recognized the State of Palestine, and one year after Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Norway," ambassadors wrote in the letter. They noted that skepticism or hostility from various international actors, along with "prioritization of interests and