istory tells us something very important about France - they don’t learn from it. Contemporary events tells us something else important about France. Their antisemitism is deeply embedded.
France should be able to see a similarity, if anyone cared to look, between how they approach dangerous Islamist elements today and the appeasement policy prior to WWII. Or perhaps France could see the similarity with the appeasement policy prior to WWI - when France, Russia and Britain instigated the mess, which defines the Balkans and Middle East of today. It could be said then that the unintended results of appeasement could not have been foreseen. It certainly cannot be said today.
The French appear ever-ready to pit themselves against common sense - it is an historical norm for France. From aligning themselves with the Ottoman empire to further their own imperialist ambition against England and Russia to Vichy appeasement of the Nazis; to French appeasement of Saddam and now French appeasement of Hamas.
At a time when Israel celebrates 60 years of struggle for existence against tremendous odds, it comes out that France elevates this terrorist group to the level of statehood by treating them as a moral equivalent of Israel.
It was even more striking because French President Nicolas Sarkozy has embraced Israel since taking office a year ago, in contrast to predecessors who nurtured France’s traditionally strong relations with the Arab world. But experts noted Sarkozy has signaled the need for “bridges” in response to Carter’s contentious visit.
Speaking on French radio Europe-1, Kouchner insisted the French contacts with Hamas over “several months” did not amount to “relations” or “negotiations.”
He did not delve into the substance of the contacts, but said Hamas has become more “flexible” - even if it still refuses to recognize the Jewish state’s right to exist.
These are “contacts, and nothing else, to inform us about the situation - first on the humanitarian front, and then especially the political one. That’s it,” Kouchner told reporters later at the Foreign Ministry.
“I think … we’re not the only ones to have contacts of this type - just to inform ourselves - and particularly in the European Union,” he added.
The French government is exhibiting yet another example of the myopic approach to dealing with those who vow the destruction of not only Israel, but anything not contributing to the benefit of an Islamic caliphate. Those of you who think this is much ado about nothing have no understand of the goal of these Islamists since the 13th Century especially.
