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French Lawmakers Debate Recognizing a Palestinian State French Legislators Debate Stand on Palestinian Statehood
(about 5 hours later)
PARIS — French lawmakers debated on Friday a nonbinding motion to recognize a Palestinian state, following similar moves in other European nations amid increasing criticism of Israeli policies in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. PARIS — French lawmakers debated on Friday a nonbinding motion to recognize a Palestinian state, following similar moves in other European nations amid increasing criticism of Israeli policies in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
The motion, initiated by the governing Socialist Party, is expected to pass when it is put to a vote in the lower house of Parliament on Tuesday.The motion, initiated by the governing Socialist Party, is expected to pass when it is put to a vote in the lower house of Parliament on Tuesday.
Even though the motion is symbolic, its passage would make France the fourth European nation to support Palestinian sovereignty. This month, European foreign ministers denounced the “unbearable situation” in Gaza, the expropriation of land near Bethlehem in the West Bank, and plans to build new settlements particularly in Givat Hamatos, a neighborhood in southern Jerusalem. Even though the motion is symbolic, its passage would make France the fourth European nation to support Palestinian sovereignty. This month, European foreign ministers denounced the “unbearable situation” in Gaza. They cited the expropriation of land near Bethlehem in the West Bank, and plans to build new settlements, particularly in Givat Hamatos, a neighborhood on the southern flank of East Jerusalem.
“The E.U. calls for a radical change of situation in terms of politics, security and economics in the Gaza Strip,” the joint statement said.“The E.U. calls for a radical change of situation in terms of politics, security and economics in the Gaza Strip,” the joint statement said.
Last month, Sweden’s prime minister, Stefan Lofven, said his government would recognize a Palestinian state, the first major Western European nation to do so. Mr. Lofven said he believed a two-state solution was the only way to resolve the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.Last month, Sweden’s prime minister, Stefan Lofven, said his government would recognize a Palestinian state, the first major Western European nation to do so. Mr. Lofven said he believed a two-state solution was the only way to resolve the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
Mr. Lofven’s initiative was followed by similar moves in the British and Spanish Parliaments, intended to pressure their governments to condemn what many view as aggressive Israeli policies. Also last month, British lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding resolution to give diplomatic recognition to a Palestinian state.Mr. Lofven’s initiative was followed by similar moves in the British and Spanish Parliaments, intended to pressure their governments to condemn what many view as aggressive Israeli policies. Also last month, British lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding resolution to give diplomatic recognition to a Palestinian state.
The motion under consideration in France invites the government to “recognize the state of Palestine” in order to “reinforce our country’s diplomatic action, prevail over hate speech everywhere and contribute to the establishment of peace in the Middle East.”The motion under consideration in France invites the government to “recognize the state of Palestine” in order to “reinforce our country’s diplomatic action, prevail over hate speech everywhere and contribute to the establishment of peace in the Middle East.”
Elisabeth Guigou, a Socialist lawmaker and president of the foreign affairs committee in the National Assembly, said the vote in France would encourage other European leaders and the European Parliament to recognize a Palestinian state and avoid having the conflict “feed anti-Semitism in France.”Elisabeth Guigou, a Socialist lawmaker and president of the foreign affairs committee in the National Assembly, said the vote in France would encourage other European leaders and the European Parliament to recognize a Palestinian state and avoid having the conflict “feed anti-Semitism in France.”
The issue is particularly delicate in France, which has the largest Muslim and Jewish populations in Europe. The war in Gaza last summer set off violent protests in several French cities.The issue is particularly delicate in France, which has the largest Muslim and Jewish populations in Europe. The war in Gaza last summer set off violent protests in several French cities.
France has long fought for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, especially under former President François Mitterrand, “who understood since 1982 that we needed two states,” said Jean-Paul Chagnollaud, who heads the Institute of Mediterranean and Middle East Research and Studies in Paris.France has long fought for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, especially under former President François Mitterrand, “who understood since 1982 that we needed two states,” said Jean-Paul Chagnollaud, who heads the Institute of Mediterranean and Middle East Research and Studies in Paris.
In 1989, Mr. Mitterrand’s decision to welcome Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, drew criticism from many Socialists in Parliament as well as local Jewish authorities. (Mr. Arafat died in a Paris hospital in 2004.) In 1989, Mr. Mitterrand’s decision to welcome Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, drew criticism from many Socialists in Parliament as well as the local Jewish authorities. (Mr. Arafat died in a Paris hospital in 2004.)
But a recognition vote would also clarify years of “sometimes unbalanced” foreign policy in the region, Mr. Chagnollaud said. After the war in Gaza over the summer, President François Hollande of France drew intense criticism for expressing solidarity with Israel. He later tempered his position, saying he was concerned about Palestinian casualties.But a recognition vote would also clarify years of “sometimes unbalanced” foreign policy in the region, Mr. Chagnollaud said. After the war in Gaza over the summer, President François Hollande of France drew intense criticism for expressing solidarity with Israel. He later tempered his position, saying he was concerned about Palestinian casualties.
As French lawmakers debated the vote on Friday, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told them that France was working with its partners at the United Nations “to adopt a Security Council resolution to relaunch and conclude talks.”As French lawmakers debated the vote on Friday, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told them that France was working with its partners at the United Nations “to adopt a Security Council resolution to relaunch and conclude talks.”
“A deadline of two years is the one most often mentioned, and the French government can agree with this figure,” Mr. Fabius said.“A deadline of two years is the one most often mentioned, and the French government can agree with this figure,” Mr. Fabius said.
While few across France’s political spectrum oppose the recognition of a Palestinian state, some leading voices of the opposition criticized the timing of the vote and said they would oppose it. Others refused to support the motion, saying it would de facto lend support to Hamas. While few across France’s political spectrum oppose the recognition of a Palestinian state, some leading voices of the opposition criticized the timing of the vote and said they would oppose it. Others refused to support the motion, saying it would amount to lending support to Hamas.
“I will fight for the Palestinians to have their state,” Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president, said at a recent campaign meeting near Paris. Mr. Sarkozy is not a lawmaker, but he is expected to secure the leadership of his center-right Union for a Popular Movement on Saturday.“I will fight for the Palestinians to have their state,” Nicolas Sarkozy, the former president, said at a recent campaign meeting near Paris. Mr. Sarkozy is not a lawmaker, but he is expected to secure the leadership of his center-right Union for a Popular Movement on Saturday.
“But unilateral recognition a few days after a deadly attack and when there is no peace process? No,” he said, in reference to an attack this month at a synagogue in West Jerusalem in which five civilians were killed.“But unilateral recognition a few days after a deadly attack and when there is no peace process? No,” he said, in reference to an attack this month at a synagogue in West Jerusalem in which five civilians were killed.
“I will not accept that the security of Israel be questioned,” Mr. Sarkozy said. “It is the battle of my life.”“I will not accept that the security of Israel be questioned,” Mr. Sarkozy said. “It is the battle of my life.”
A few days before the debate, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said that French recognition of a Palestinian state would be “a serious mistake.”A few days before the debate, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said that French recognition of a Palestinian state would be “a serious mistake.”
“Is it what France should do in this moment when some people behead people across the Middle East, including a French citizen?” Mr. Netanyahu told reporters last week. He was referring to French recruits who appeared, unmasked, in the prologue of a gruesome Islamic State video that showed the beheading of an American aid worker.“Is it what France should do in this moment when some people behead people across the Middle East, including a French citizen?” Mr. Netanyahu told reporters last week. He was referring to French recruits who appeared, unmasked, in the prologue of a gruesome Islamic State video that showed the beheading of an American aid worker.