France Rejects Genocide Accusations Against Israel in Gaza, “To accuse the Jewish state of genocide is to cross a moral threshold,” France’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.
by Sargon_IQ
France Rejects Genocide Accusations Against Israel in Gaza, “To accuse the Jewish state of genocide is to cross a moral threshold,” France’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.
by Sargon_IQ
37 comments
France Rejects Genocide Accusations Against Israel in Gaza
“To accuse the Jewish state of genocide is to cross a moral threshold,” France’s foreign minister said on Wednesday.
France on Wednesday became the latest Western country to reject accusations that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinian civilians in Gaza, a charge that was recently brought before a United Nations court in The Hague.
Stéphane Séjourné, France’s newly appointed foreign minister, told lawmakers in France’s lower house of Parliament that “the rule of law applies to all, and systematic strikes in Gaza must cease.”
But, Mr. Séjourné added, “words have meaning.”
“To accuse the Jewish state of genocide is to cross a moral threshold,” he said. “The notion of genocide cannot be exploited for political ends. This has always been our position.”
Israel is facing the charge of genocide at the International Court of Justice, where South Africa has brought a case arguing that Israel “means to create conditions of death” in Gaza and demanding that the court order an emergency suspension of the military campaign there. The Israeli authorities deny the accusation.
South Africa has won praise at home and from other countries for challenging what they see as a Western-led global order that is biased toward Israel.
The United States has called the case meritless, and several European countries have rejected it too. Germany, which intervened in the case as a third party in Israel’s favor, said that there is “no basis whatsoever” to South Africa’s claim. Israel was founded in the aftermath of the Nazi-led genocide of European Jewry, and Germany has rooted much of its post-Holocaust identity in the idea of supporting the Jewish state.
President Emmanuel Macron of France did not mention South Africa’s case during a wide-ranging news conference on Tuesday, but he said that “all lives are equal” and that many in France were “shaken” by the plight of civilians in Gaza.
“The priority is the cease-fire,” said Mr. Macron, blaming Hamas for using civilian as “shields” and saying Israel had the right to defend itself. But he argued that Israel should follow humanitarian law by prioritizing “targeted operations” over broad bombardments.
“And I say this because it is also in Israel’s long-term security interests,” he said. “Continuing operations the way they are currently being carried out is to take a risk — including in the long-term, given the impact it is having in the whole region — for the very security of Israel.”
France, home to some of Europe’s largest Jewish and Muslim communities, has seen fierce debates over the conflict in Gaza, including within its top diplomatic ranks. In November, a dozen French ambassadors in Middle East and North Africa countries expressed unease over Macron’s perceived pro-Israeli stance.
Mr. Séjourné’s comments on Wednesday came in response to a question from Danièle Obono, a lawmaker for the leftist France Unbowed party who argued that “if it wants to be consistent with its values, France must urgently follow South Africa’s lead.”
“History is watching us, and it won’t be kind to those who knew and did nothing,” she said.
Mr. Séjourné shot back that “we don’t need any lessons from your party,” as France Unbowed has faced intense criticism for refusing to call Hamas a terrorist group. “That’s the scandal, Ms. Obono,” he said.
Aurelien Breeden is a reporter for The Times in Paris, covering news from France. More about Aurelien Breeden
They are absolutely correct. The notion of genocide is trying to be exploited for political means. It’s disgusting. Good to see not everyone has lost their minds.
What do we call the systematic extermination of a large demographic group, then?
Removing an ethnic group is litteraly a genocide. This is not a moral question. It’s a dictionary definition
All of these genocide deniers are monstruosly evil.
That foreign minister is either an idiot, or has been bought.
Seeing all the downvotes, I’m surprised there are so many jews on Reddit.
Israel offered Palestinians a solution multiple times, including half of Jerusalem. They refused.
It’s not like muslims are natives in any land except the Arabic peninsula, so what was taken by force is up for grabs.
Israel just has to stay strong and wait and time will give them legitimacy, Islamic style.
Im sure this comment section will be very civil and objective. Mods will surely not have to lock this post /s
That’s a nonsensical statement that tries to shut down a debate with a rhetorical ‘You can’t say that!’ sledgehammer.
If you conclude that Israel is not committing genocide, list factual reasons that support your claim (or point to the absence of convincing evidence put forward by those who claim otherwise).
You can’t just claim that the ‘Jewish state’ is above accusations of genocide just because.
So, a murderer can’t be a murderer if their parents or grandparents were murdered by someone else?
Hot to keep that in mind, if I ever need some murdering done in France.
Genocidal intent is so explicit that any attempt to pretend otherwise cannot be anything but massively ignorant or actively malicious.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/29/south-africa-accuses-israel-of-committing-genocide-in-gaza
Just three examples from the dozen on page 59 to 66:
President of Israel: On 12 October 2023, President Isaac Herzog made clear that Israel
was not distinguishing between militants and civilians in Gaza, stating in a press conference to
foreign media — in relation Palestinians in Gaza, over one million of whom are children: “It’s
an entire nation out there that is responsible. It’s not true this rhetoric about civilians not aware
not involved. It’s absolutely not true. … and we will fight until we break their backbone.”
Israeli Minister of Heritage: On 1 November 2023, Amichai Eliyahu posted on
Facebook: “The north of the Gaza Strip, more beautiful than ever. Everything is blown up and
flattened, simply a pleasure for the eyes … We must talk about the day after. In my mind, we
will hand over lots to all those who fought for Gaza over the years and to those evicted from
Gush Katif” [a former Israeli settlement]. He later argued against humanitarian aid as “[w]e wouldn’t hand the Nazis humanitarian aid”, and “there is no such thing as uninvolved civilians
in Gaza”. He also posited a nuclear attack on the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Army reservist “motivational speech”: On 11 October 2023, 95-year old Israeli
army reservist Ezra Yachin — a veteran of the Deir Yassin massacre during the 1948 Nakba —
reportedly called up for reserve duty to “boost morale” amongst Israeli troops ahead of the
ground invasion, was broadcast on social media inciting other soldiers to genocide as follows,
while being driven around in an Israeli army vehicle, dressed in Israeli army fatigues:
“Be triumphant and finish them off and don’t leave anyone behind. Erase the memory of
them. Erase them, their families, mothers and children. These animals can no longer live
. . . Every Jew with a weapon should go out and kill them. If you have an Arab neighbour,
don’t wait, go to his home and shoot him . . . We want to invade, not like before, we want
to enter and destroy what’s in front of us, and destroy houses, then destroy the one after
it. With all of our forces, complete destruction, enter and destroy. As you can see, we
will witness things we’ve never dreamed of. Let them drop bombs on them and erase
them.”
Pretty cool that Israel basically gets a free pass to do whatever the hell they like without any international condemnation.
Mon ami 🙂
Apartheid tho yesh
Israels actions and statements are nothing short of genocidal, the IDF needs to be swiftly stopped by the international community. The IDF and Israels actions are as evil as the Bosnian Genocide, and the response to them must be as severe as they were back then.
So I guess any criticism of Israeli war crimes is just anti semitism.
Edit: No, I’m not accusing these people of anything, I just think the trial would make everything clear.
Well, I think a trial of Benjamin Netanyahu, IDF Generals, and Yoav Gallant should take place as soon as possible, because I think we all deserve to know the truth.
Typical nonsense from idiots who have not a single clue. The fact is hew has no business claiming to know what is and is not genocide considering his countries history in blatant exploitation of slavery in Haiti. Yes what has been happening in Gaza and the west bank has been genocide for decades its just that simple. You simply do not get to go spewing this kind of utter horse shit of a claim because you think zionist regimes like netenyahoo is running is magically jewish. The actual jewish population in Israel is against it.
Oh no! A *moral* threshold! The gods forbid *anyone ever* crossed any in this matter!
Who knew that the simple fact of what religion you follow can excuse you from crimes.
Classic black people can’t be racist statement , right there.
Spineless shills, nothing new.
Some religions are more equal than others
Non allies -> “Clearly a genocide”
Allies -> “Genocide? what, are you crazy?”
They should reject it on the grounds that Israels actions are not genocide, not because its a Jewish state. Israel being a Jewish state is irrelevant to the question. Any group of people can enact a genocide.
Like always the Shoah is a free pass for Israel to do what they want. Europe is so scared to be called antisemitic that they can’t stop sucking Israel dick.
Gaza is literally a modern concentration camp.
I have no idea wether israel committed genocide or not, but if there is even a doubt about it, it absolutely makes sense to go ahead with a trial… so if they turn out to be innocent, we will have an actual trial to prove it, and if they are guilty.. well it’s important to know it
What i think is not right is to say a priori “we shouldn’t even consider the idea, because they are our allies”
Man, the USian boot must taste amazing
If you put moral tresholds before humanitarian ones, you’re an evil prick.
“We must use terror, assassination, intimidation, land confiscation, and the cutting of all social services to rid the Galilee of its Arab population” – David Ben-Gurion, Former Prime Minister of Israel
Perfectly reasonable and correct statement. I’m sure it will go down well here.
I’ve been here before the comments got nuked!
so carte blanche for them to do whatever thet want?
Are you saying that Israelis are incapable of committing genocide, like every other nation? Seems a little anti-semitic…
Commenting here before the mods lock the post..
So, how’s the weather ? 🙂
Cool, so Russia is doing a “genocide” because it’s western enemy and Israel gets a pass because it’s an american ally?
Great so they are allowed to do anything they want to civilians
Why choose a side A or B and then blame the other side for things. Why not to condemn all the hostility no matter the side. “Peace is a matter of will” – Martti Ahtisaari