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No Israel-Palestine deal sans Arafat`s agreement: France
New Delhi, Sept 22: In a clear disapproval of Israel`s threat to expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, France has said that no meaningful deal would be struck between Israel and Palestine without his agreement. It also advocated that a referendum be held to enable people from the two warring sides to vote for peace.
New Delhi, Sept 22: In a clear disapproval of Israel's threat to expel Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, France has said that no meaningful deal would be struck between Israel and Palestine without his agreement. It also advocated that a referendum be held to enable people from the two warring sides to vote for peace.
"Focussing on President Arafat personally is justified neither by logic nor by principles," France Foreign Minister Dominique De Villepin said in an article published in 'Al Hayat' daily newspaper.
"No meaningful deal may be sealed between Israelis and Palestinians without his agreement, and moreover, how can one call for a democratic Palestine while objecting to the particular individual elected by the Palestinians?" he asked. He said like the rest of the international community, France and Europe reject the threats of expulsion against Arafat. French President Jacques Chirac had said it would be a "grave error" if this was implemented.
Calling for an end to putting pre-conditions, he said doing so was as "recipe for failure".
The French Minister said ten years after Arafat and Itzha Rabin signed the Washington declaration, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was experiencing what may be its worst situation since 1967. "The road map has broken down. Palestinians and Israelis, who had drawn closer, thanks to the Oslo process, are today divided by deep hostility," he said.
Bureau Report
"No meaningful deal may be sealed between Israelis and Palestinians without his agreement, and moreover, how can one call for a democratic Palestine while objecting to the particular individual elected by the Palestinians?" he asked. He said like the rest of the international community, France and Europe reject the threats of expulsion against Arafat. French President Jacques Chirac had said it would be a "grave error" if this was implemented.
Calling for an end to putting pre-conditions, he said doing so was as "recipe for failure".
The French Minister said ten years after Arafat and Itzha Rabin signed the Washington declaration, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was experiencing what may be its worst situation since 1967. "The road map has broken down. Palestinians and Israelis, who had drawn closer, thanks to the Oslo process, are today divided by deep hostility," he said.
Bureau Report