Posted on 01/11/2015 11:46:22 AM PST by Dave346
The French government was opposed to the idea of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attending Sunday’s historic march in Paris, believing the Israeli leader’s presence at the rally would be “divisive,” Israeli media reported Sunday.
Netanyahu did not initially plan to attend the event, which was organized in a show of solidarity and defiance after terrorist attacks in the French capital which claimed 17 lives. However, the Prime Minister changed his mind after Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett announced they would join the march, Israel’s Channel 2 news reported.
In retaliation to Netanyahu’s sudden change of heart, which came in spite of the French government’s position, the Elysee Palace extended an invitation to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, according to the report.
The French government reportedly further chose to highlight their invite to Abbas rather than Netanyahu’s announcement regarding the event, announcing a planned meeting between French President Francois Hollande and Abbas Saturday night.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to a request to respond to the reports.
On Sunday, Hollande and world leaders, including Netanyahu and Abbas marched in the mammoth procession, which began near where gunmen killed 12 people at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo last week.
Netanyahu was initially situated in a second row of leaders, but shimmied his way into the front row, alongside Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Council President Donald Tusk and Abbas.
Among the victims were four Jews at a kosher supermarket and a Muslim police officer.
(Excerpt) Read more at timesofisrael.com ...
Just as funny, Hollande insisted that Marine LePen’s National Front Party be excluded. This shows how stubbornly foolish and arrogant the man is. He now comes across as catering to the Muslims, snubbing the Israelis, *and* insulting to those French who he disagrees with politically.
None of this will be ignored by French voters. While they are probably neutral to Netanyahu, they are already angry at the Muslims, and getting angrier, and seeing Hollande bow and scrape before them will not help. And then, snubbing the National Front just makes Hollande look like a groveling, sniveling, political hack who cares nothing for France.
Well said.
If this attack had happened in Jerusalem it would have been a below the fold news item in the west.
I watched Netanyahu’s condolences to France. The French are fools. I would believe that he was sincere before I would believe any leader of a Muslim country was sincere.
And then, snubbing Conservatives just makes Boehner look like a groveling, sniveling, political hack who cares nothing for America. Fixed it.
Zero called us Teabaggers until he realized he had to sic half his cabinet and most of our own GOP on us.
The purpose is just political theater
All socialists have the same script regardless of whether their name is Merkel, Hollande or Obama.
Where was Kerry, Biden and most of all Obama? Leaders from around the world were there. But then Muzzies were to blame and Obama never blames them for anything.
O was well represented there (by Abbas)
They probably disinvited our muslim president also.
Obama is standing with the muslims.
Bibi assigned to second row?
Unreal.
Bibi assigned to second row?
Regrets for the duplicate post.
There was a report on Fox News this AM, saying that there is about a half million Jews in France.
The French “government” does not represent a large part of the French population, much like Obama does not represent the heart of America.
Boston Strong! I hate that slogan.
I see. That makes sense. There seems to be some sort of breakdown nowadays between “elected governments” and those supposedly represented
its a serious problem in USA, for sure
I’m so sorry to hear its a problem in France, too
The french are, if not the most useless people on Earth, a very close second to whoever is....and that leaves out all like the North Koreans who merely have a useless government.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.