In a period dominated by local news, the eyes of French Jews still turn to Jerusalem
December 8, 2017 15:36News coverage of Donald Trump’s Jerusalem announcement is struggling for media space in France because of the passing of two great figures of French culture: Jean D’Ormesson, a literary giant, and Jonny Halliday, France’s Elvis Presley.
While both identified actively with the political right, their talents -- and their longevity – made them iconic representatives of the French nation. Success in the seduction game was part of their mystique. President Macron will speak at a government-sponsored tribute to Jonny on the Champs Elysees Saturday.
Media coverage of Jerusalem has been largely predictable. Everyone knows how the Israel-Palestinian conflict must be settled. Jerusalem cannot be Israel’s capital because it belongs equally to the three Abrahamic faiths.
To touch Jerusalem in any way is to put the Arab-Muslim world on fire and destroy all prospects for peace. Only a madman like Trump would make a unilateral declaration to the contrary.
Donald Trump is undoubtedly catering to his political base, but that’s surely normal. The liberal elite does not like Trump’s base, but Christians Evangelists and Jewish Republicans are entitled to vote in a democracy. Trump is appeasing Senators tempted to impeach him, but he is also respecting the rule of law by implementing the formal wish of successive Congresses frustrated till now by repeated Presidential waivers.
Trump’s statement shifts the goalposts, that’s for sure, but he has now declared support for a two-state solution and left open for negotiation the boundary of Israel’s capital and the capital of a future Palestine. But “the world” has condemned him -- by ignorance, pro-Palestinian bias, self-interest and a vague fear of violence.
Despite all the hand-wringing and cynical jibes in the media at Trump and Netanyahu, official reactions in France and Riyad have lacked venom and a few French commentators have become neutral or even pro-Israel as old clichés lose their punch.
Israel still sits on a “strapontin” -- the end-seat at the theatre that folds up under you the moment you stand. But maybe another 70 years will be enough to earn the Jews a normal seat on the world stage.
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