Hundreds Rally Against Paris ‘Peace’ Summit: An ‘Anti-Israeli Tribunal’
Among those present at the demonstration were Israel's ambassador to France and the president of the French-Jewish umbrella organization CRIF
PARIS - Hundreds of people rallied in support of Israel outside of the Jewish state's embassy in Paris on Sunday as foreign ministers from dozens of nations gathered for a Middle East peace parley in the French capital.
Among those present at the demonstration were Israeli and Jewish leaders, including Israel's ambassador to France and the president of the French-Jewish umbrella
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the peace conference as "futile," charging that it was organized in coordination between France and the Palestinians and would distance the two sides from direct negotiations on ending their decades-old conflict.
CRIF President Francis Kalifat told The Jerusalem Post that upon learning of the scheduling of the Paris summit, "we scheduled our own rally, in support of Israel and in support of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital."
"More than that, we are here today to express our objection to the Paris Middle East Conference, which we consider an anti-Israeli tribunal, similar to the negative decisions adopted by UNESCO and the UNSC [United Nations Security Council]," he said.
Kalifat added that many French Jews were disappointed by the government in Paris, which refuses to accept the fact that true peace should and could be achieved only through direct negotiations.
"France must realize that one cannot make statements and take such decisions five days before a new administration takes office in the US," he argued.
Israeli Ambassador to France Aliza Bin-Noun said at the rally that "France has condemned the terrible attack in Jerusalem, and screened the flag of Israel on the City Hall façade, thus showing that we share the same values of peace, democracy, solidarity and mutual respect. Yet France has still continued with its initiative and the conference convened today, a peace-pretending conference."
Bin-Noun recalled that Israeli peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt were both reached through direct negotiations, and not through international forums.
Rally attendee Jean B., 25, said that "we are here today to tell our own president that Israel has already reached out to the Palestinians in peace. The Palestinians are trying to internationalize the conflict, instead of accepting Israel’s hand and begin unconditional talks."
Another participant at the demonstration, identified as Elisabeth, a student at the Sorbonne, told the Post that "we are hoping that our leaders will hear an outcry and listen to it. I know that France wants to advance peace, but they are going about it the wrong way."
Among those present at the demonstration were Israel's ambassador to France and the president of the French-Jewish umbrella organization CRIF
PARIS - Hundreds of people rallied in support of Israel outside of the Jewish state's embassy in Paris on Sunday as foreign ministers from dozens of nations gathered for a Middle East peace parley in the French capital.
Among those present at the demonstration were Israeli and Jewish leaders, including Israel's ambassador to France and the president of the French-Jewish umbrella
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the peace conference as "futile," charging that it was organized in coordination between France and the Palestinians and would distance the two sides from direct negotiations on ending their decades-old conflict.
CRIF President Francis Kalifat told The Jerusalem Post that upon learning of the scheduling of the Paris summit, "we scheduled our own rally, in support of Israel and in support of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital."
"More than that, we are here today to express our objection to the Paris Middle East Conference, which we consider an anti-Israeli tribunal, similar to the negative decisions adopted by UNESCO and the UNSC [United Nations Security Council]," he said.
Kalifat added that many French Jews were disappointed by the government in Paris, which refuses to accept the fact that true peace should and could be achieved only through direct negotiations.
"France must realize that one cannot make statements and take such decisions five days before a new administration takes office in the US," he argued.
Israeli Ambassador to France Aliza Bin-Noun said at the rally that "France has condemned the terrible attack in Jerusalem, and screened the flag of Israel on the City Hall façade, thus showing that we share the same values of peace, democracy, solidarity and mutual respect. Yet France has still continued with its initiative and the conference convened today, a peace-pretending conference."
Bin-Noun recalled that Israeli peace agreements with Jordan and Egypt were both reached through direct negotiations, and not through international forums.
Rally attendee Jean B., 25, said that "we are here today to tell our own president that Israel has already reached out to the Palestinians in peace. The Palestinians are trying to internationalize the conflict, instead of accepting Israel’s hand and begin unconditional talks."
Another participant at the demonstration, identified as Elisabeth, a student at the Sorbonne, told the Post that "we are hoping that our leaders will hear an outcry and listen to it. I know that France wants to advance peace, but they are going about it the wrong way."
