On the 18th day of the ongoing escalation between Hamas and Israel, French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Tel Aviv, where he will call for “the resumption of an effective peace process” between the Palestinians and the Israelis. Macron will also work to present “practical proposals as much as possible” to prevent escalation, release hostages, ensure Israel’s security, and work to achieve a two-state solution.
Published on: 10/24/2023 – 05:25
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After visits by a number of Western leaders, the French President arrives Emmanuel Macron Tuesday to Israel. Macron is seeking to achieve diplomatic breakthroughs, as he confirmed a few days ago that he would not travel to the region unless he believed that the visit would be “useful.” French officials said that the French President will “most likely” meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and will also stop in one or more of the Arab capitals in the region.
The Elysee announced on Monday that Macron will call in Israel for “the resumption of an effective peace process” that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside the State of Israel, which also requires “a cessation of settlement activity” in the occupied West Bank.
Macron arrives in Tel Aviv more than two weeks after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, where he will express France’s “support” for “Israel and the French in Israel.”
Macron will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and centrist leaders Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid from the opposition.
Although he made phone calls and spoke with the leaders of Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Qatar after the attack on the 7th of this month, his visit comes late and after visits made by US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. .
The French presidency said, “The only way to achieve benefit is, first, to show solidarity with Israel, second, to declare clear commitments against terrorist groups, and third, to reopen a political horizon.”
The French president wants to work to “release the hostages” held in Gaza, “slow down the escalation,” and “avoid the expansion of the conflict and a dangerous and uncontrolled escalation in the Middle East,” and thus propose “re-opening a political path,” according to the Elysee.
A presidential advisor indicated that France is calling in particular for “a humanitarian truce whose main goal must initially be to facilitate the release of those detained or missing today in Gaza.”
30 French citizens were killed during the Hamas attack on Israel, and seven others are still missing. One of them appeared in a video posted by Hamas, but the fate of the other six remains unknown.
He added, “We want a humanitarian truce that gives us enough space to build a political scenario that we hope will lead to a ceasefire.”
He said, “Behind the collective commitment that must be built against the threat of terrorism, there is a necessity to open a political path that revives the only valid solution in the Middle East, which is the two-state solution,” stressing that it is “a goal that France has never deviated from.”
In this context, the French presidency stated that Macron “will talk about reopening the political track and therefore will naturally talk about what is necessary to establish a Palestinian state and not only about stopping settlements, which is a demand that France has expressed very clearly many times to the Israeli authorities, but also about holding negotiations.” “Ultimately about the criteria that allow for the establishment of a viable and permanent Palestinian state, capable of living in peace and security with Israel.”
France 24/AFP/Reuters
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2023-10-24 03:25:33
