Paris- The French President's statements ignited Emmanuel Macron The spark of verbal altercations with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuHe urged a halt to the delivery of weapons to Israel and the necessity of “returning to a political solution” during an interview with a local media outlet yesterday, Saturday.
As expected, Netanyahu did not delay in responding quickly, and said in a statement issued by his office, “As Israel fights the forces of barbarism led by Iran, all civilized nations must stand firmly with Israel. However, President Macron and other Western leaders are now calling for Imposing an arms embargo against Israel, shame on them.”
While the Israeli occupation fears a “domino effect” that may push other countries to issue a decision to boycott arms sales to it, such as the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada, observers believe that French support for Israel is still strong and has not changed on the ground, which has increased France’s influence in the Middle East. Marginally more than ever before.
Supportive position
The French President expressed his concern about the war, which is entering its second year GazaDespite repeated calls for a ceasefire. He said, “Avoiding escalation in Lebanon is a priority, and Lebanon cannot become a new Gaza.”
The French-Palestinian activist and MP explained: European Parliament Rima Hassan, Macron's “stern” condemnation of the Israeli military incursion into Lebanese territory reflects the “historic rapprochement” between the two countries, Lebanon and France, more than it is towards the Palestinians, “and because the Lebanese can be considered victims of a regional fire that they did not really choose.”
The representative said – in an interview with Al Jazeera Net – that the French role is part of the European dynamic, and she adds, “We know that the Israeli partnership agreement is not in doubt, even though Article Two of it stipulates that it is conditional on respecting human rights, and it is known that a number of European countries continue to… Supplying Israel with weapons and having strategic partnerships.”
The representative stressed that despite the student movements’ demands to end the partnership and the academic boycott – as was the case with Russia – to put an end to dealing with double standards, so far there is no penalty or concrete decision. “Thus we conclude that support for Israel is almost complete and off the table, and is being confirmed.” “Every time they hide behind diplomatic formulas to suggest that they are voices of peace.”
For his part, former advisor to the French Foreign Ministry, Manaf Kilani, recalled the continuation of this support since the outbreak of the war on Gaza, saying, “France sent warships with the approval of the National Assembly and the Senate, even though this falls outside their roles, because foreign policy is the domain of the executive authority, and then everyone rushed to To meet with Israeli officials and show unconditional solidarity with them.”
The former advisor also described the French position as “tortuous.” On the one hand, the President of the Republic said that “the war must end,” while stressing that the Israeli prisoners in Gaza must return, and that his country supports Israel and that its security is not negotiable. Likewise, the position of Minister of the Armed Forces, Sebastien LeCorno has always been in the interests of Israeli politics.
Lack of credibility
Adopting a less conciliatory rhetoric towards the Israeli authorities than during his first trip to Israel on October 24, 2023, Macron called for an end to the bombing of civilians in Gaza during an interview with British BBC Radio last November.
However, the credibility of his statements is still in doubt, as the European Representative considers that France’s position has developed in a very timid manner due to its continued desire to link Hamas to the international war against terrorism, and thus create a kind of parity between “State regulation“And the Palestinian resistance. This was an error in Macron's first declaration, which was amended by the diplomatic corps a few days later.”
The activist of Palestinian origin explained that there is difficulty in reaching a common voice at the regional level on this issue, especially Germany, “which is the country historically involved and also responsible for the genocide of the Jews, which proves to be the most censorious and even repressive.”
She adds, explaining, “In France, a number of activists were accused of calling for terrorism, while Germany followed methods of arrests and violent police suppression of demonstrators supporting the Palestinian cause.”
On the other hand, Counselor Kilani described the statements of the Minister of the Armed Forces not to send weapons to Israel as “false allegations” that made France lose its credibility, and limited its role to that of “message carrier for Israel and America,” indicating that what is happening today is similar to the policy of the late president. Jacques Chirac But “with more hypocrisy.”
Kilani pointed out that France opposed twice at the United Nations and in all international meetings the Russian draft resolution aimed at imposing a ceasefire, in addition to its failure to issue any condemnation of the assassination of the Secretary-General of Hezbollah. Hassan Nasrallah Or Israeli incursions into Lebanon.
He continued by saying, “While France always seeks to provide lessons on respect for human rights, whether to the Middle East or to its former colonies, it itself has been convicted several times by the European Court of Human Rights for failing to adhere to its laws.”
Diplomatic retreat
In light of the political and military protection that the United States provides to its ally, Israel, the two speakers believe that France’s influence and influence in the Middle East – including Lebanon – has become “marginal.”
According to the activist, this is due to “the absence of a common European path on the issue of the war on Gaza,” which explains France’s absence from international diplomacy, explaining that this “French-European failure lies in their inability to pursue a common foreign policy, and the continued pursuit of the historical shadow of the Holocaust memory that “The policy of some countries prevents them from clearly embracing the Palestinian cause.”
She continued by saying that there is no unified structure of the European position or a common dynamic that speaks with one voice, and even within the European Parliament – which has become dominated by the extreme right-wing orientation – we find that the position of the foreign policy official in… European Union Josep Borrell Completely different from the position and statements of the president European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The European Representative said – in her speech to Al Jazeera Net – that the French diplomatic discourse today is limited to calling for a ceasefire without issuing any punishment against Israel to pressure it, despite the occupation’s violations of international law having been documented for years, “because we are faced with the issue of colonialism, occupation, and the illegal siege of Gaza, in addition to apartheid.”
As for Counselor Kilani, he believes that “Macron and his previous or current government did not come out of nowhere, but rather as a successor to other politicians who follow the same doctrine in French diplomacy,” by which he means the doctrine that has remained in place since the signing of the agreement. Oslo Accords Which Israel does not implement today “because it does not meet its interests, which are expanding settlements and reducing the occupied Palestinian territories.”
Kilani believes that this doctrine of appeasement aims to “gradually make the Palestinians content with fewer demands and rights, so that they end up completely abandoning the idea of the existence of an independent state or obtaining any sovereignty, even over part of the lands.”