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France to move forward on Mideast conference
Associated Press
Published: 07.06.11, 23:32
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14 Talkbacks for this article
1. Nothing diplomatically useful ever comes from France....
Charles ,   Paris, FRANCE   (06.07.11)
....but anything has to be better than an initiative by Obama. So I say: Bienvenue a Paris!
2. Pali UNITY govt partners REJECT French talks
CK Tan ,   Singapore, Singapore   (06.08.11)
They include hamas, islamic jihad and the PFLP. So instead of being CORNERED by the French and the LAME pali president, Israel is SMART to say that US is the MAIN interlocutor.
3. Middle East Favors Ethiopia - Egypt in decline
EthioJegna ,   Addis Ababa Ethiopia   (06.08.11)
Due to the revolution and more extremist tendancies of the Egyptian population, Israel is now supplying Ethiopia with long range missles to target Egypt's Aswan High Dam and Pyramid Attractions in the event that Egypt launches a preemptive attack against Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam, the biggest dam in Africa and the 10th largest in the world, built on the Nile River starting #Jan25 LOL
4. Good luck with the French initiative.
Michael ,   California, USA   (06.08.11)
Not much hope, but it is better than nothing. Let them find common language somewhere, anywhere, perhaps over a bowl of French Onion soup? It is a positive sign that the Palestinians are willing to sit down to talk. Israel will do well to agree.
5. Elections 2012
Georges Bruno ,   EU/US   (06.08.11)
Sarkozy needs Jewish and Muslim voters. DSK out of the loop: easy victory. No brainer. Faster on his feet than Obama who all the sudden gets some respect to Israel? US elections comiIng up! Israelis: do not give in. Nobody, really nobody will there for Israel or the Jews.
6. Like Israel Respects Obama Suddenly
Mark ben Josuf ,   USA   (06.08.11)
Netanyahu is just looking for cover for no peace ever. He has already rejected the concept of real statehood for Palestine. Likud still rejects the concept of two-states. Claiming the US is vital is a joke. Netanyahu and the entire current Israeli government have rejected every one of his ideas. And the lecture at the White House was the icing on the cake. So the US has nothing to offer. And the Israeli government which made that abundantly clear, insists that the US, which can offer nothing is essential? What a joke! Let the French hold their conference and let Israel either show up and actually negotiate or prove its intent - which is currently, no Palestine ever. Then the world can move on to examining one bi-national state and how that might function. It would behoove the Israeli right to consider adopting a constitution that ensures minority rights, along with majority rule.
7. A look into the lessons of history would help
Yaëlle Schlichting ,   Raubling, Germany   (06.08.11)
It was the due to the failure of the victorious powers of World War I. to clearly state about what can be achieved instead of what they would like. Hence they missed to send clear messages to the other newly founded Arab states. They failed to prepare a treaty along with the treaty of Lausanne, that would have forced all countries to fully accept each other. The result was, that the Arab countries are the real winners of the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. And as we know. The Arabs don't give a fuck on the rules we have adopted here in the western world. They don't give a shit on the Geneva convention. They don't have an idea, what we are talking when it comes on human rights. +++This is the basic misunderstanding on which the Balfour-Declaration, the San Remo conference and the subsequent Treaty of Lausanne are based on. +++ The result? You can negotiate whatever you want. The only interesting thing on a Middle East Conference will be the dinner and the program for the first ladies. +++ The only thing that stands rock solid is the Arab hate against Jews and their declared will to extinguish Israel and kill all Jews. That's not new and one fine day, the western countries need to accept the realities in the Middle East and act accordingly.
8. Politique Arabe de la France
Raphael ,   Netanya   (06.08.11)
For 170 years, the infamous Quai d'Orsay stubbornly spilled oil on the fire in the Middle East, expecting some oil benefits from the chaos. Thus thy gained some respect from their muslim proxies, who nevertheless despise the ballet dancinf french diplomats, but does not qualify them in any case as honest brokers.
9. #6 Mark bJ resorts to FAIRY TALES. Again.
CK Tan ,   Singapore, Singapore   (06.08.11)
Mark offers NO proof to SUBSTANTIATE what he CLAIMS in the 1st three paragraphs. He of course is TOTALLY oblivious to the FACT that it is the US who wants to discuss the French offer. Israel and the palis. And it is the US who DOWNPLAYS the usefulness of the offer. Mark is equally IGNORANT of the FACT that Abbas' partners in the UNITY govt have already REJECTED the French offer. His SWIPE at Israel's minority rights record is also a LIE. The REPUTABLE Economist global democracy REVIEW - which also measures MINORITY RIGHTS - ranks Israel at the TOP 25% of ALL the countries in its report. In other words, Israel is well AHEAD of the other ME countries. In fact, the report UNEQUIVOCALLY states that Israel is the ONLY democracy in the region comprising ME and North Africa. Then again, FACTS do not matter at all in Mark's PATHETIC myths, LIES and fairy tales as long as he can BLINDLY bash Israel.
10. Unfortunately US will probably block it
Jon ,   Baltimore US   (06.08.11)
simply because they would be embarassed if France succeeded in getting both sides to the table when the US has failed. I hope they don't but judging from past performances hard liners in Israel and the US are currently looking for reasons not to have talks much more often than for reasons to have them. Sad but true, in my opinion of course |8-)
11. Oui , mais...
vitenberg ,   France   (06.08.11)
The "oui, mais..." de Valéry Giscard d'Estaing en 1967 is a useful example for diplomatic language, after the french proposal What is "mais? -First speaking about all problems, refugees, jews and arabs, and jerusalem -Second, acceptance by the palestinian side of the UNSC 242 resolution. Why? International law says: when a state permits the secession of a portion of his territory, this new entity is compelled by the signature of the first state (Jordan) - third, last but not least: the sole valuable document accepted by all parties, is the english one. The french one is a distorted one.. The palestinians want only (first phase) good military lines for the second phase, the destruction of Israel. Out of this, all is ridiculous dreams...
12. # One Chrles, Paris, France
Cherie   (06.08.11)
I agree with you 100% --- anything has to be better than an Obama dictat --- Obama doesn't make suggestions, he only knows to DEMAND and then smacks his gub closed.
13. paris for talks
moron ,   galut   (06.08.11)
french are irrelevant and not nearly as brite as they pretend-propse madrid instead
14. I LOVE a brisk and inspiring stroll.
Gideon Reader ,   USA   (06.08.11)
M.Juppe, obviously does not feel that the Israel PM, is sufficiently high enough up the decision making ladder to refuse to join in the "Lets all do away with Israel" fest. Jumping Juppe is going ahead with France's "Peace Talks" anyway; Israel or no Israel. Maybe he longs for a nice brisk stroll under the Arc d'Triumph. Ah. Paris in the spring. A stub of a Gauloise pasted to the protrudding lower lip. A scarf knotted around one's neck. The perfume of unwashed armpits, and stale garlic breath. Zut alors! The hairy mole on the concierge's nose. Shrugging the shoulders. Alas, no marching German soldiers strolling under the Arc. maybe hamas could provide a few companies. Even a Hezbollah Battalion or two. Worse comes to Wurst, some Youts could burn a building or two. Even several hundred automobiles, if pressed. Merci M'sieu. Merci bunches and bunches.
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