The French president announced in late July that he would recognize the Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly in New York in September.
On the occasion of the French initiative, followed by similar statements by the United Kingdom, Canada and Portugal, “To Vima” he spoke with him Henri LoranesHistory Professor at College de France – from the most prominent university institutions in France – and holder of the headquarters of the history of the Arab world, asking him to comment on France’s specific diplomatic movement and its importance.
Why did President Macron now take this initiative?
“Because in recent days there has been a real international mobilization. They are shocking. French public opinion does not remain unmoved. “
Macron’s decision reflects a timeless position of France?
“France’s attitude has changed little since 1967. At that time, De Gaulle had condemned the Israeli attack during the six -day war. He was in favor of the recognition of Israel by the Arab states but also in favor of the recognition of Palestine and Israel’s departure from the occupied territories. All the presidents of the fifth French Republic remained loyal to this line, though with different approaches. However, France did not have virtually no means to influence the field. “
Why didn’t this recognition of the Palestinian state from France earlier?
“Because it is largely linked to the domestic political scene, as is often the case in other countries with the conflict between Israel and Palestine, and France is no exception. In France there is a particularly active and deeply injured Jewish community, which refers to the atrocities of the Holocaust.
At the same time, however, the presence of Muslims with strong roots in the country is crowded. There is also the real Islamophobia of the French far -right, which equates the Palestinians with Hamas and Islamist terrorism. I remind you that because of a similar rhetoric and Jeremy Corbin, a former leader of the Labor Party in Britain, had been accused of anti -Semitism. “
How important is Macron’s initiative?
“At the level of symbolism and ethics it is important. In practice, however, from a political point of view, many things cannot be done. “
Why not? Can not other countries affect other countries? Britain, Canada, Portugal intend to follow its example.
“To create a state or to change the correlations of forces on the field. At international level, however, it is important and can have a variety of consequences. “
It was written that if the French initiative is not accompanied by sanctions on Israel, then Macron is in danger of recognizing a cemetery rather than a state. How do you comment on it?
“There is always, in theory, the possibility of sanctions. However, despite the means of pressure available to the French government, it is not expected to take any substantial action, as it is confronted with tensions inside the country, which are triggered by the situation I mentioned above. “
Should we therefore wait until the UN General Assembly in order to have developments?
“Obviously. We should also see the attitude of the British because London proposes the recognition of the Palestinian state under its own terms. “
