France remembers with stress this October 7 and the bloodbath by Hamas, a 12 months in the past, in opposition to the Jews in Israel. It has the most important inhabitants of Muslims and Jews in Europe. Lebanon is its former protectorate and a million Lebanese dwell within the nation. The connection between Paris and Beirut is shut and inner. The presidents of France and Iran trade their observations on the disaster by telephone. Anti-Semitism will increase with the diploma of phobia in the direction of Muslims and immigrants. An explosive state of affairs.
Final night time, President Emmanuel Macron had a brutal dialog with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. It was after the French president and 88 French-speaking international locations insisted that “the one answer was political” and that “arms shouldn’t be given to Israel for Gaza”. Aiming to return Lebanon to Gaza, the Israeli prime minister mentioned his proposal was “a shame”.
Within the interview broadcast on Saturday by France Inter, Macron requested “that we cease the supply of weapons to hold out the combating in GazaA press release to the USA formally advocating a cease-fire whereas militarily supporting Israeli forces.
The wrath of Israel
Feedback properly acquired in a number of Arab capitals. However positively They provoked Netanyahu's anger. “What a disgrace,” the Israeli prime minister instantly responded, calling Emmanuel Macron by title and judging that “all civilized international locations should firmly help Israel.”
“France is Israel's unbreakable pal,” the Elysee later reworded in a press launch, deeming “Mr. Netanyahu's phrases redundant and alien to the friendship between France and Israel.”
In an effort to scale back the stress, the French president reaffirmed on Sunday, throughout a phone dialog with the Israeli prime minister, France's “unwavering dedication” to Israel's safety. However he additionally insisted on the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon.
In line with the Elysée press launch, they mentioned “the state of affairs within the Center East, with full sincerity and respect for the friendship between France and Israel. “Each leaders admit their variations of opinion, in addition to their need to be properly understood by the opposite.” The truth is that the dialogue was horrible and trustworthy.
one other spherical
However there was additionally a bitter wrestle between the previous chancellor Dominique de Villepin and the essayist Bernard Henry Levy, who accused him of being “anti-Semitic”. In France, there is no such thing as a neutrality within the face of the battle within the Center East.
The thinker accused the previous prime minister of “hatred of Israel” and to the “Jews”, Sunday at LCI. The exit made Dominique de Villepin tremble and apologize.
Invited to LCI on Sunday, October 6, on the eve of the anniversary of the Hamas assaults in opposition to Israel this Monday, October 7, Bernard-Henri Lévy attacked Dominique de Villepin head-on throughout an analogy made with Jean-Luc-Mélenchon. “I imagine that in each Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Dominique de Villepin there’s something greater than chilly calculation. There’s a hatred that conjures up, that drains. I hate Israel and people who are known as Israel, that’s, the Jews.”judged the thinker.
Dominique de Villepin was famous for his crucial positions on the bombings carried out by the Israeli military in Gaza and attracted appreciable sympathy inside the left.
This BHL assault brought on former Prime Minister Jacques Chirac to react strongly, believing that “there was no place for such feedback” within the “democratic debate”. “Slander and lies negate democratic debate,” he mentioned. “That's why I can not settle for such phrases from Bernard-Henri Lévy, it violates his dignity, his, the dignity that each particular person ought to have when expressing himself within the public house. I imagine that in democratic debate, and much more so on the eve of October 7, for the time being after we will commemorate a horrible bloodbath, dignity and respect are wanted within the debate”, answered Dominique de Villepin. He additionally demanded an “apology” from the essayist and requested him to “behave”, quoting Albert Camus.
President Macron aspires to a fragile place of stability within the battle between Israel and its neighbors, particularly for home political causes. However tensions are excessive on his half.
There’s a distinction in France. Hezbollah, the political occasion, its ministers and deputies should not thought-about a terrorist group. Solely the military, not like different European international locations.
The road shouldn’t be straightforward: help for the Lebanese folks, requires a ceasefire. But additionally a reminder of Hezbollah's duty within the destabilization of Lebanon and their terrorist acts, together with in opposition to passing French troopers.
In mid-September, after the sudden “beep” assaults in opposition to Hezbollah members attributed to Israeli companies, Emmanuel Macron recorded a video to attract the eye of the Lebanese, during which he paid tribute to the “civilian victims” and highlighted the guard. in opposition to all odds. He rejected “escalation”, assuring that “there’s a diplomatic method”. No phrase on Hezbollah, nonetheless, whose army department is taken into account a terrorist group by France and the European Union.
Lack of affect
The previous French ambassador to Qatar and one of many nice specialists of the Center East, Bertrand Besancenot, was conclusive: “At this time we should admit that the function of France within the Center East, together with Lebanon, is marginal. Our affect has enormously diminished. France definitely requested a gathering of the UN Safety Council on September 25 concerning the state of affairs on this nation. He took the initiative – with Washington – to make a press release, supported by a number of international locations within the area, to demand a direct ceasefire in Lebanon. However Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't care about these sorts of calls,” he defined.
“Within the eyes of the Israeli prime minister, The one ones who matter and may put strain on Israel are the Individuals“, he assured.
This diplomatic mini-crisis was mirrored within the tributes to the victims of October 7. Macron acquired the households of the Franco-Israeli hostages this Monday on the Elyseenonetheless held within the Gaza Strip.
In line with the Elysée, the Head of State reiterated to the households current that France is doing “all the things doable” to succeed in a ceasefire and an settlement that will primarily enable the discharge of Frenchmen Ohad Yahalomi and Ofer Calderon, “and that he requested” for to take action” for all events and to maneuver on this path with out additional delay.
Macron declared that France “will proceed to combat tirelessly in opposition to the rise of anti-Semitism wherever it seems.”
Anti-Semitism in France
Anti-Semitic acts have erupted in France from October 7, 2023. A turning level for the Jews of France as properly, which has led them to change into invisible or depart for Israel.
With the presence of the top of state, Prime Minister Michel Barnier, his ministers and former President Nicolas Sarkozy, a ceremony was organized Monday night time on the Dome in Paris to recollect the victims of the terrorist assault on October 7 in Israel and the hostages. There have been 4000 folks. Pictures of the captured hostages had been launched.
“An earthquake, clearly, for Israel, but in addition a French shock,” mentioned Jonathan Arfi, the president of Crif, the consultant council of Jewish establishments. He was referring to anti-Semitism, to the 877 anti-Semitic acts of the final semester, that occurred in France.
“No title, no face, no destiny ought to be forgotten”, mentioned the president of the Nationwide Meeting Yaël Braun Pivet, honoring the victims and the kin who await the discharge of their family members.
As the entire world commemorates the reminiscence of 1,206 folks, largely civilians, killed on October 7, 2023 by Hamas in Israel, The Eiffel Tower will likely be turned off for a couple of minutes on Monday at 23:45, introduced the municipality of Paris. It will likely be his tribute to the victims of the worst Jewish bloodbath after the Holocaust.