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French Lawmakers Debate Recognizing Palestinian State French Lawmakers Debate Recognizing a Palestinian State
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — French lawmakers on Friday debated a nonbinding motion to recognize a Palestinian state, following similar moves in other European nations amid increasing criticism and frustration of Israeli policies. PARIS — French lawmakers on Friday debated a nonbinding motion to recognize a Palestinian state, following similar moves in other European nations amid increasing criticism and frustration over Israeli policies.
The motion, initiated by the governing Socialist Party, is expected to pass comfortably when it is put to a vote in the lower house of Parliament on Tuesday. It invites France to “recognize the state of Palestine” in order to “reinforce our country’s diplomatic action, prevail over hate speeches everywhere and contribute to the establishment of peace in the Middle East.”The motion, initiated by the governing Socialist Party, is expected to pass comfortably when it is put to a vote in the lower house of Parliament on Tuesday. It invites France to “recognize the state of Palestine” in order to “reinforce our country’s diplomatic action, prevail over hate speeches everywhere and contribute to the establishment of peace in the Middle East.”
Even if it is in favor of the motion, the vote would remain symbolic and nonbinding for the French state. But France would become the fourth European nation to take such a symbolic step in support of Palestinian sovereignty amid increasing criticism of Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.Even if it is in favor of the motion, the vote would remain symbolic and nonbinding for the French state. But France would become the fourth European nation to take such a symbolic step in support of Palestinian sovereignty amid increasing criticism of Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Last month, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven of Sweden said that his government had decided to officially recognize a Palestinian state because 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, which urged their governments to condemn what many see as aggressive Israeli policies. Also last month, British lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding resolution to give diplomatic recognition to the Palestinian state.Last month, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven of Sweden said that his government had decided to officially recognize a Palestinian state because 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, which urged their governments to condemn what many see as aggressive Israeli policies. Also last month, British lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a nonbinding resolution to give diplomatic recognition to the Palestinian state.
Elisabeth Guigou, a Socialist lawmaker and president of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the National Assembly, said the vote in France would encourage other European leaders and the European Parliament to recognize a Palestinian state and “avoid that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict be instrumentalized to feed anti-Semitism in France.” Elisabeth Guigou, a Socialist lawmaker and the president of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the National Assembly, said the vote in France would encourage other European leaders and the European Parliament to recognize a Palestinian state and “avoid that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict be instrumentalized to feed anti-Semitism in France.”
France has long fought for 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. But a recognition vote would also clarify years of “sometimes unbalanced” foreign policy in the region, Mr. Chagnollaud said. After the war in Gaza this summer, Mr. Hollande drew intense criticism for expressing solidarity with Israel. France has long fought for 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, which is based in Paris. But a recognition vote would also clarify years of “sometimes unbalanced” foreign policy in the region, Mr. Chagnollaud said. After the war in Gaza this summer, Mr. Hollande drew intense criticism for expressing solidarity with Israel.
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. 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 that they would oppose it.
“I will fight for the Palestinians to have their state,” former President Nicolas Sarkozy 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,” former President Nicolas Sarkozy 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.”
Reacting to the lawmakers’ debate, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said that French recognition of a Palestinian state would be “a serious mistake.”Reacting to the lawmakers’ 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?” Mr. Netanyahu said, referring to the French recruits who appeared, unmasked, in the prologue of a gruesome Islamic State video leading to the beheading of an American aid worker, Peter Kassig.“Is it what France should do in this moment when some people behead people across the Middle East?” Mr. Netanyahu said, referring to the French recruits who appeared, unmasked, in the prologue of a gruesome Islamic State video leading to the beheading of an American aid worker, Peter Kassig.