Fabius. Israel's friend
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Former French PM: Israel's security pivotal
Laurent Fabius said during the recent Herzliya Conference, ‘time has come for us Europeans, legitimately interested in a just and long lasting peace between you and the Palestinians, to recognize that we have without any doubt underestimated the trauma that exists in Israeli society due to horrific suicide attacks and constant security concerns’
Former French Prime Minister Laurent Fabius said during the recent Herzliya Conference, “When I declare that I am French, European and Socialist, this means that I feel pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian at the same time.
“It seems to me that there are two essential principles, security for Israel and the right of Palestinians to have a state; a viable state that is not immediately condemned by its geography,” Fabius added.
However, in a later interview with Ynet, it seemed that Fabius may have certain reservations as to Europe’s tendency to view the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a somewhat distorted manner.
Fabius, who is running for the French socialist party leadership in a bid to run on its behalf in next year’s presidential race, admits that things could have been different between Israel and Europe.
“The time has come for us Europeans, legitimately interested in a just and long lasting peace between you and the Palestinians, to recognize that we have without any doubt underestimated the trauma that exists in Israeli society due to horrific suicide attacks and constant security concerns,” he said, but stressed that the same goes for the Palestinians.
“Many in Europe have criticized Israel’s response to the crimes committed against its people: the occupation, the repression and the suffering sustained by Palestinians are all legitimate concerns,” Fabius told the Herzliya Conference.
‘Arab countries should recognize Israel’s right to exist'
“Already put to the test by a long occupation, the Palestinian society has suffered greatly; lives have been ruined and barriers have been put up. However have people expressed the same strong compassion for Israeli victims of terror? Here, just like in many other places, terrorism is the great enemy of peace.”
The former prime minister also called on tbe EU to strengthen its ties with Israel and the future Palestinian state.
“We must help launch a kind of European Marshall Plan in the Palestinian territories, particularly in Gaza. We must make sure more than we have in the past that our aid reaches the actual population,” he said.
Fabius proceeded to criticize Arab countries that did not “follow the path already courageously taken by Egypt and Jordan.”
“They (Arab countries) should recognize Israel’s right to exist and establish normal diplomatic relations. Such a recognition, because it will increase the security of the Israeli population would eventually be beneficial to the Palestinian cause and open the way for further concessions after the disengagement from Gaza,” he said.
As to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s call to “wipe Israel off the map,” Fabius claims Europe’s condemnations were insufficient, adding that the countries should have recalled their ambassadors from Tehran in response.
