The Israeli-French honeymoon is likely over

[Jefferson23]

Following the decisive victory of socialist party candidate Francois Hollande, France will experience a series of characteristic, economic, and foreign policy changes, but Netanyahu has no reason to rejoice.

By Sefy Hendler

Regime change in a democracy is always a delightful moment. The cruelty and swiftness with which voters cast their ballots is a reminder of the fact that despite the corruption, filth, and unscrupulousness that exist in a functioning democracy, democracy is nonetheless an exceptional method of keeping resources that belong to the masses out of the hands of the few.

In France, where the role of President still holds a smidgen of kingliness, removal from office is that much more cruel and impressive. Only a moment ago, Sarkozy was omnipotent, but following the swift decision of millions of voters, he is packing up his suits and leaving the palace. Francois Hollande’s impressive victory will bring about significant changes in a variety of areas. In the initial weeks and months of Hollande’s presidency, we must focus our attention on three of them.

The economy: Experts agree that Sarkozy lost the election, and Hollande’s victory was the result of his presence as “the other guy.” At the same time, however, Hollande made one promise that essentially won him the presidency: 75% tax. The socialist candidate made his disdain for the rich clear at the start of the campaign; however two months before election day, he outdid himself, and made a concrete claim: 75% tax for those who earn over one million euros a year. Hollande was met with heated anger from right-wingers for this claim, but he did not back down.

Hollande’s proposed claim is in sharp contrast to Sarkozy’s policy, as one of the latter’s first moves as president was to pass the “Financial Shield” legislation, preventing the rich from paying more than 50% in taxes. It is left to be seen how exactly Hollande will implement the promise that led to his victory - Hollande enjoyed the support of many left-wing extremists, who are waiting with bated breath.

remainder: http://www.haaretz.com/news/international/the-israeli-french-honeymoon-is-likely-over-1.428694

[oberliner]

1. Story doesn't match the headline

Almost nothing about Israel-France relations in the article (and nothing at all in the excerpt you've provided).

[Jefferson23]

2. Thanks for the kick. n/t

[oberliner]

5. You're welcome

Here the part that actually touches on those relations (and where the headline comes from):

It remains to be seen who Hollande will name has his foreign minister, but it is likely that the Israeli-French honeymoon enjoyed by Sarkozy and Netanyahu is over. Will Hollande go so far as to invite the leader of the Israeli Labor Party to a meeting in France during the election campaigns? We must wait and see.

<end of excerpt>

This speculation, however, does not seem entirely in accord with other comments Hollande has made as a candidate, where he has said that he intends to visit Israel and opposes the various boycotts connected with Israel and the settlements.

One wonders why Ha'aretz was keen on putting that particular spin on the election. The folks at Electronic Intifada look at it this way:

"Hollande offered a bland restatement of the failed peace process and two-state consensus, a clear indication that just as Obama followed Bush’s pro-Israel policies, Hollande will almost certainly follow those of Sarkozy and the EU in general."

http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/new-french-president-says-boycott-israeli-goods-illegal-paris-court-acquits-more

[Jefferson23]

7. I think most people can figure out what the OP is about and put it into

context without you. I do appreciate the kicks though.

[bemildred]

3. Interesting times.

It will be interesting to see if he waits until after that parliamentary elections before throwing his weight around.

[LeftishBrit]

4. Interesting, but I don't think one can tell at this stage

As I've commented before, foreign observers tend to look primarily at a country's foreign policy, while domestic voters tend to vote more on economic issues; this was certainly true in this case. Even the article is mostly about economic issues, plus the personal characteristics of the two candidates. It may affect Israeli-French relations, but it's hard to tell so early in the game.

[oberliner]

6. Yeah, that's what I found so odd about the headline

The article basically talks about how important economic issues were with respect to this election, and how foreign policy (especially with respect to the Middle East) was not a primary concern.

[Scurrilous]

8. 92.8% of French nationals in Israel voted Sarkozy

Israeli who made aliyah says Hollande's victory won’t encourage French Jews to make aliyah. 'Possibility of making a decent living does not exist in Israel,' he says

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4225663,00.html

<snip>

"Socialist Francois Hollande won the second and decisive round of France's presidential election on Sunday, but French nationals residing in Israel voted overwhelmingly for ousted French leader Nicolas Sarkozy.

Official results show that 92.8% of French nationals residing in Israel voted for Sarkozy (9,186).

Gad Bukovza, 62, who immigrated to Israel from Paris in 2009, said the "dire economic situation, Sarkozy's personality and the media, which made fun of him – all tilted the scales in Hollande's favor."

<snip>

"Meir Masri, another French national, said the Right's loss in the French election "puts the Jewish community there in an uncomfortable situation, because the vast majority of French Jews, including those who live in Israel, support the Right – and Sarkozy in particular.

"He was the first French leader to fully understand Israel's situation and supported it. France's Jews considered him a pro-Israel leader."

[bemildred]

9. 'Possibility of making a decent living does not exist in Israel'

Good Lord.

[oberliner]

12. More Than One Quarter of Jews in France Want To Leave, Poll Finds

NEW YORK, March 25 (JTA) -- French Jews have grown so disgusted with anti-Semitism that more than one quarter of them are considering emigrating.

That's according to a new survey of the 500,000-member French Jewish community, the second largest in the diaspora.

The poll was conducted by The Israel Project, which previously measured American attitudes about Jews and Israel in order to produce pro-Israel ads.

According to the poll, 26 percent of those surveyed said they have considered emigrating due to worsening French anti-Semitism.

Of them, 13 percent are "seriously" considering leaving, according to Washington pollster Stan Greenberg, who led the surveys and focus groups.

http://www.jewishfederations.org/page.aspx?id=41975

[bemildred]

13. Don 't you find that statement weird?

I do.

[oberliner]

14. Sure, but who is he?

Just some random person making a weird remark.

[bemildred]

15. And on Arutz Sheva too, native ground, so to speak.

However, I'm not arguing he is right, far from it, so I'm not likely to defend that statement either. I just wonder on what basis such an apparently contra-factual statement is made. In France, he could argue bias, in Israel with it's "vibrant" economy, I don't get it.

[oberliner]

16. What do you mean?

Aren't we talking about the Ynet article?

Anyway, maybe something got lost in the translation.

[bemildred]

18. Yeah you're right not the same.

My point is you have a guy on Ynet saying Jews can't make a living in Israel, which seems odd to me.

[LeftishBrit]

10. It is simply not true that most French Jews support the Right

There have been a lot of prominent French Jewish left-wing politicians and activists: Jack Lang, Bernard Kouchner (though he did also serve in Sarkozy's government), the late trade union leader Henri Krasucki, Roger Badinter, Jacques Attali, Dominique Strauss-Kahn (yes, yes, I know...), Alain Krivine, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, Pierre Moscovici, Julien Dray. Then there was Simone Veil, who though she served in Conservative governments, would be very left-wing in the American context. And a long time ago, there was Leon Blum. I can think of far fewer right-wing French Jews. It may be that those French Jews who choose to live in Israel are right-wing; but I wouldn't consider them as necessarily particularly representative.

[shira]

17. They're not right-wingers, they're liberals. The Left has hijacked liberalism.

Liberals who oppose far Leftists are intentionally misrepresented as "rightwing" for doing so.

Funny thing is that no one supports the most far Right fascist elements of the 3rd world more than the hard Left...

[LeftishBrit]

19. I am confused as to who you mean by 'they'

French Jews in general? French expatriates in Israel? French Jewish politicians? Supporters of Sarkozy?

People who support Sarkozy over Hollande are in general right wing. Perhaps not as invariably as those who nowadays support Republicans: there has traditionally been a certain amount of similarity and even overlap between elements of the parties in France, and ultramoderate conservatives who act like progressives have not been that uncommon. However, the choice THIS time has been stark, and it is an economic one.

If you meant French Jews, I would entirely agree that they are not in general right wing.

'Liberals who oppose far Leftists are intentionally misrepresented as "rightwing" for doing so.'


Hollande is not a 'far leftist'. And I can assure you that Europaean left-wingers and progressives at the moment are concerned with opposing cuts and ultra-austerity, not with 'supporting far right fascist elements in the 3rd world'. I could add that some Europaean countries (I'm referring to Spain and Greece, not the UK or France) were essentially fascist-run 3rd world countries themselves 40 years ago, and could be turned back to such a state if economic ruin continues. There is a lot at stake.

Liberals who deliberately choose to collaborate with right-wing economic policies (yes, Nick Clegg and Danny Alexander, I do mean YOU), do thereby become associated with the right-wing themselves, and it has nothing to do with 'far-right fascist elements' in faraway countries.

[oberliner]

11. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas telephoned Hollande

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas telephoned Hollande and invited him to visit Palestinian Authority headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa said.

It quoted Abbas as wishing "luck and success in his high office to President Hollande...in strengthening France's regional and international role in the cause of world justice and peace."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h3AQF7iYYxYheYFqGZ65iVjXj9NA?docId=CNG.4068cc3958df4994bc6d71115552788f.351

Abbas Congratulates Hollande on Victory

http://english.wafa.ps/index.php?action=detail&id=19758