France backing away from "State of Palestine, 1967 borders, Jerusalem as its capital" as the only solution

Maariv reports that France is changing its official position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and no longer rules out the possibility of a different solution than the traditional two-state orthodoxy, according to diplomatic sources in Paris.

In a discussion initiated by a pro-Israel lobby organization in Europe, French Ambassador to Israel Eric Danon said: "We will not negotiate on behalf of the Palestinians. This is a bilateral question and we say that the new situation that has arisen must be taken into account and returned to the negotiating table."

"No one knows what will be in the end - one state, two states, with or without Jerusalem. What we prefer and think is best is a two state solution. Does that mean we can not agree on something else? Not at all. We can accept any solution that the Palestinians and Israelis will agree on. "

Ma'an adds that Danon also said, "Six months ago, no one would have imagined that Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain would sign a peace agreement. The Middle East has changed completely because of the position of the United States, Iran and Turkey, because Israel has become a new regional power. The Palestinians must take into account their weak position on the international and Arab arenas." 

Danon had said similar things in the past, but it was classified in Paris as a "personal position." This seems to have changed. 

This is yet another thunderbolt that is becoming a daily occurrence. Western European countries have been the last reliable support for the maximal and fantasy Palestinian positions, even as the US and the Arab world has been distancing themselves from the PLO. Mahmoud Abbas has been relying on the EU to do its negotiating for him and to pressure Israel for him - exactly what Danon said France will no longer do. 

Up until two months ago it would have been unthinkable for a EU country to say out loud that maybe Palestinians won't get a capital in Jerusalem, let alone their own state. 

All of this is a direct result of the Israel/UAE agreement brokered by the Trump administration. It is the culmination of three years of injecting reality into the Arab/Israeli conflict, and now that the "Palestine on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital and return of refugees" bubble has been broken, the world is free to think of alternative ways to bring peace. 

---

---

We have lots of ideas, but we need more resources to be even more effective. Please donate today to help get the message out and to help defend Israel.