This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/03/world/europe/france-vote-recognize-palestine.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
French Lawmakers Vote to Recognize Palestinian State French Lawmakers Vote to Recognize Palestinian State
(about 3 hours later)
PARIS — France’s lower house of Parliament on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly in favor of a nonbinding motion to recognize a Palestinian state, the latest in a series of votes in Europe that have underlined growing European frustration with Israeli policies. PARIS — First it was the British and the Irish. Then the Swedes and the Spanish. And on Tuesday, the French, too, added their weight to the push for recognition of a Palestinian state.
The motion, initiated by the governing Socialist Party, passed by 339 votes to 151. It is expected to pass the Senate later this month. The vote in the French lower house of Parliament favoring such a step was a largely symbolic move. But it was the fifth such gesture in two months — and arguably the most important — in what has amounted to a cascade of support for the Palestinian cause and a widening torrent of criticism against Israeli policy across Europe.
Though the vote is unlikely to affect France’s foreign policy, it nevertheless carries particular resonance coming from a country that has both the largest Muslim and Jewish populations in Europe.
As such, France itself has become something of a proxy playing field for the Arab-Israeli conflict, which this summer spilled over into the streets of cities around the country with sometimes violent protests during Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.
Similarly, the French vote, and the other moves, accompany a worrying rise in anti-Semitism in Europe that some have linked to intensifying antipathy toward Israel, as well as growing radicalism among young European Muslims who have been lured to jihad in Syria.
Serge Cwajgenbaum, the secretary general of the European Jewish Congress, an organization in Brussels representing European Jews, played down the political consequences of the vote, calling it toothless.
But he said the French vote nevertheless reflected a worrying attitude in some quarters of Europe that threatens to further undermine the faltering Middle East peace process.
Mr. Cwajgenbaum said he feared the vote was an attempt by some on the French left to curry favor with Muslim voters.
“Such votes can have negative consequences for the Middle East peace process because it can radicalize people, while pushing Palestinians to abandon the negotiating table in favor of seeking recognitions,” Mr. Cwajgenbaum said.
“I can’t exclude the possibility that there can be repercussions of the vote on the Jewish community,” he added, “as criticism of Israel can be construed by some extremists as an excuse for incitement against Jews.”
The Israeli Embassy in Paris condemned the vote. It said Israel considered it “an error that sent the wrong message to leaders and people in the region.” It noted that French policy remained unchanged, namely, that only a negotiated solution would bring an end to the conflict.
Other European nations have taken steps in support of a Palestinian state as attitudes toward Israel harden.
In October, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven of Sweden said his government would recognize Palestine because a two-state solution was the only way to resolve the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.
In that same month, British lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding resolution to give diplomatic recognition to the Palestinian state. The Irish and Spanish Parliaments urged their governments to condemn what critics in those countries called Israel’s aggressive policies.
The European Parliament, the European Union’s only directly elected body, said in a statement last month that it would debate and vote on a resolution on the recognition of Palestinian statehood during its plenary session on Dec. 15 in Strasbourg, France.
Israel has sought to play down the importance of the recent steps in Europe recognizing a Palestinian state, noting that only a negotiated settlement could achieve a solution to the conflict and warning against unilateral action by third parties.
Nevertheless, the strength of the vote in France in one of the most influential countries in the European Union is harder to ignore.
The lower house of Parliament voted 339 to 151 in favor of the nonbinding motion to recognize a Palestinian state, which was initiated by the governing Socialist Party. It is expected to pass the Senate later this month.
The vote urged 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 vote urged 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.”
Analysts said the vote, which is largely symbolic, was unlikely to result in a change of the French government’s diplomatic support for the state of Israel, since foreign policy is largely determined by the foreign minister and president rather than the Parliament.President François Hollande, who supports Israel, has distanced himself from the vote. The vote is unlikely to result in a change of the French government’s diplomatic support for Israel, since foreign policy is largely determined by the president and the foreign minister. President François Hollande, who supports Israel, has distanced himself from the vote.
Nevertheless, the strident tone of parts of the motion and the easy majority on approval reflected Europe’s growing impatience with the breakdown of peace negotiations over a two-state solution, the conflict in Gaza, and Israel’s forging ahead with settlements in the face of international criticism, including from some of its closest allies such as France. After the conflict in Gaza last summer, Mr. Hollande drew intense criticism from commentators across the political spectrum for expressing solidarity with Israel, underlining the fragile balance he has sought to maintain between retaining Israel as a close ally, not alienating Muslim voters, and also seeking to buttress the Middle East peace process.
In November, European foreign ministers denounced the “unbearable situation” in Gaza. They also 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. Nevertheless, the strident tone of parts of the parliamentary motion and the wide margin with which it passed reflect Europe’s growing impatience with the breakdown of negotiations over a two-state solution, the conflict in Gaza and Israel’s forging ahead with settlements despite international criticism, including from some of its closest allies, such as France.
In October, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven of Sweden said his government would recognize Palestine because a two-state solution was the only way to resolve the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. In that same month, British lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding resolution to give diplomatic recognition to the Palestinian state. The Irish and Spanish Parliaments also urged their governments to condemn what critics in those countries called Israel’s aggressive policies. While few across the French 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 not support it. Others refused to back it, saying it would amount to supporting the militant Palestinian movement Hamas.
The European Parliament, the European Union’s only directly elected body, said in a statement in November that it would debate and vote on a resolution on the recognition of Palestinian statehood in December, during its plenary session in Strasbourg, France. Speaking before the vote, the former president, Nicolas Sarkozy, said he supported a Palestinian state. But he also voiced unwavering support for Israel.
But the issue is particularly sensitive in France, which has the largest Muslim and Jewish communities in Europe. The conflict in Gaza has often spilled over into France, causing tensions between Jews and Muslims, including last summer, when Israel’s military campaign against Hamas set off a wave of violent protests in several cities across France. “I will not accept that the security of Israel be questioned,” he continued. “It is the battle of my life.” Mr. Sarkozy was elected the leader of his center-right Union for a Popular Movement on Saturday, and is expected to run in the 2017 presidential election.
Leaders in France’s Jewish community, while broadly supportive of Israel, have warned against equating the community with Israeli policies and against importing the Arab-Israeli conflict into France. They have also expressed alarm that criticism of Israeli policy has been exploited by some to promote anti-Semitism. Thousands of Jews have left France in recent years, with Israel a favored destination. At the same time, the violent demonstrations against Israel over the summer coincided with a government effort to emphasize to the world that France is not anti-Semitic. Leaders in France’s Jewish community also criticized the vote. In recent months, as violence flared during the Gaza war, they have warned that criticism of Israeli policy was being seized by some to promote anti-Semitism.
Serge Cwajgenbaum, secretary general of the European Jewish Congress, a Brussels-based organization representing European Jewry, played down the political consequences of the French vote, which he called toothless. But he said the vote nevertheless reflected an attitude in some quarters of Europe that in his view threatened to undermine the Middle East peace process. They urged the media to avoid equating the Jewish community with Israeli policies and warned against importing the Arab-Israeli conflict into France. Thousands of Jews have left France in recent years, with Israel a favored destination.
He said he feared the vote was an attempt by some on the left to curry favor with Muslim voters. “Such votes can have negative consequences for the Middle East peace process because it can radicalize people, while pushing Palestinians to abandon the negotiating table in favor of seeking recognitions,” Mr. Cwajgenbaum said. In November, European foreign ministers denounced the “unbearable situation” in Gaza. They also cited Israel’s expropriation of land near Bethlehem, in the West Bank, and its plans to build new settlements, particularly in Givat Hamatos, a neighborhood on the southern flank of East Jerusalem.
“I can’t exclude the possibility that there can be repercussions of the vote on the Jewish community, as criticism of Israel can be construed by some extremists as an excuse for incitement against Jews.” France has long backed a two-state solution, 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 based in Paris.
France has long advocated a two-state solution, 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 1988, Mr. Mitterrand’s decision to welcome Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, drew criticism from many Socialist lawmakers and local Jewish figures. (Mr. Arafat died in a Paris hospital in 2004 at the age of 75.)
In 1988, Mr. Mitterrand’s decision to welcome Yasir Arafat, the Palestinian leader, drew criticism from many Socialist lawmakers and French Jewish authorities. (Mr. Arafat died in a Paris hospital in 2004 at the age of 75.) But, Mr. Chagnollaud said, a vote recognizing the Palestinian state would also clarify years of “sometimes unbalanced” foreign policy in the region.
But a vote recognizing the Palestinian state would also clarify years of “sometimes unbalanced” foreign policy in the region, Mr. Chagnollaud said. After the war in Gaza last summer, Mr. Hollande drew intense criticism from commentators across the political spectrum for expressing solidarity with Israel, underlining the fragile balance he has sought to maintain between retaining Israel as a close ally and not alienating Muslim voters, while seeking to buttress the Middle East peace process. As French lawmakers debated the vote on Friday, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told them that France was spearheading an effort at the United Nations to pass a Security Council resolution to restart and conclude peace talks.
As French lawmakers debated the vote on Friday, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told them that France was spearheading an effort at the United Nations to adopt a Security Council resolution to restart and conclude peace talks. Palestine was upgraded to the nonmember observer state of the United Nations in 2012. More than 130 countries around the world have recognized Palestine.
“And if this final effort to reach a negotiated solution fails? If this last attempt to find a negotiated solution doesn’t succeed? Then France will have to do what it takes by recognizing without delay the Palestinian state. We are ready for it,” Mr. Fabius told Parliament. “And if this final effort to reach a negotiated solution fails?” Mr. Fabius asked Parliament rhetorically. “If this last attempt to find a negotiated solution doesn’t succeed, then France will have to do what it takes by recognizing without delay the Palestinian state. We are ready for it.”
While few across France oppose the recognition of a Palestinian state, some opposition leaders criticized the timing of the vote and said they would not support it. Others refused to vote for it, saying it would amount to supporting Hamas.
Palestine was upgraded to nonmember observer state of the United Nations in 2012. More than 130 countries around the world have recognized Palestine.