France: Trump Was Wrong to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel's Capital - Israel Today

France: Trump Was Wrong to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel's Capital

Thursday, March 08, 2018 |  Israel Today Staff

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Jerusalem

France's president believes that for the sake of advancing a peace process that hasn't gone anywhere in 20 years, the international community should continue adhering to a fantasy that is clearly debunked by facts on the ground.

Speaking at the annual dinner of France's Jewish umbrella organization, CRIF, President Emmanuel Macron chastised US President Donald Trump for his recent public recognition of the obvious - that Jerusalem is the capital city of the State of Israel.

Macron called this move an "error" that only served to perpetuate the Middle East conflict.

He went on to echo Palestinian leaders by insisting the US could no longer play the role of honest and unbiased peace broker.

What Macron glossed over was the fact that 20 years of playing to the Arab narrative regarding Jerusalem had likewise never served to advance the cause of peace. Even former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak's offer to surrender most of the eastern half of the Holy City didn't result in an agreement. In fact, it preceeded precisely the opposite - an explosion of violence.

Pretending that Jerusalem is not the capital of Israel to avoid Palestinian outbursts is akin to a parent letting a belligerent child have his or her way to forestall a temper tantrum.

PHOTO: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah (L) and French President Emmanuel Macron hold a joint press conference at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France. (Avi Ohayon/GPO)

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