Monday, May 14, 2007
Though it's not official yet, it doesn't necessarily sound good: Israel shocked by Sarkozy's pick for FM
Vedrine is a well-known and not-much-beloved personage in Jerusalem, having served as foreign minister under prime minister Lionel Jospin from 1997-2002.
During the height of the Palestinian violence that began in September 2000, Vedrine advocated economic sanctions against Israel within the EU...
...in a January interview with the pan-Arab Al-Hayat newspaper, Vedrine said that "Palestinians... endure misfortune and utter chaos, viewed as the outcome of a policy suggested by the US and Israeli right-wing parties."
While Sarkozy has repeatedly said that he would not legitimize Hamas or Hizbullah by entering into dialogue with them, and that the Iranian threat must be met with unity and firmness by European leaders, Vedrine voiced another approach.
"With respect to France, I always call for keeping dialogue channels open with Iran, Syria, Hizbullah and Hamas. I would not be the least be stunned should France follow this path," he said. ..
[via Bald Headed Geek]
Sarkozy has sailed through the stormy ocean of his campaign with confidence and clear moral conviction. This choice of FM is his first faltering misstep. Is he losing his nerve, snatching appeasement of Leftist sensibilities from the jaws of moral clarity?
Darn it, I was hoping Jules Crittenden was being overly-sceptical here:
http://www.pajamasmedia.com/2007/05/ditch_the_accordion.php
Maybe he's doing this to cover his flanks, to reassure the Muslim electorate and those in government that he won't rock the boat too much. And, anyway, French foreign policy doesn't seem to change very drastically over the years. Their calculation of national interest remains the same, to whit: There is little to be gained from supporting Israel and lots to be gained or maintained from supporting the Arabs (oil, arms deals, influence at the expense of the USA). Don't expect a revolution here.
Also, I am wondering if Sarkozy is making this politically correct move on the foreign-policy front, so he can be more strongly anti-immigrant on the domestic front. A pro-Arab foreign policy can offset a get-tough-on-immigrants domestic policy. That way, he won't be seen as too right-wing, as beyond the pale.
Thanks for the h/t, Sol. I saw your followup post on this subject as well. All in all, a very disappointing beginning to the Sarkozy era............
BHG