France: EU must play role in Israeli-Palestinian talks

Let the Arabs pay their bills,.The Arab league is the one that decides for the PA and prevent the peace so let them finance the PA.

TYhios french cheese eating surrender monkeys. When Germany marched she lasted a week, sank her own Navy and played up to the Bosche. yes the frecnh will play an important role....NOT

I'll give them the benefit of the doubt that their intentions were honourable and not sinister, but the bottom line is that this conflict would have been solved long ago if France and other europeans had withheld their financial (and moral?) support from the Palestinians until they recognized Israel's right to exist. At best well-meaning but stupid. At worst...

Do the French want to send someone to the talks before they supply the LAF with weapons or after ?

It seems that Europe doesn't even abide to their own constitution. Equality among all Europeans? Indiscrimination? Where are all human rights defenders? NOT A WORD FROM ALL THE NGO'S IN DEFENSE OF THE GYPSIES WHILE THIS UGLY RACIST DEPORTATION TAKES PLACE. Their silence is evidence that all these peace organizations are founded by antisemitics, who have nothing for real human values.

In the same manner that Israel was given the opportunity to declare Sovereign Statehood "..within frontiers approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its Resolution of November 29, 1947," [ http://wp.me/pDB7k-tM ] so too should ANY interested UNSC permanent Member state and ANY UN Member State, be involved if they wish. As Israel is acting OUTSIDE of it's Sovereign territories, it is EVERY UN Member State's right to poke it's nose in. Read the UN Charter.

So why to collect a huge crowd. No peace agreement is possible without PA, Fatah, Hamas recognizing Israel. All of them continuously talk against it. They get pleanty of free money from UN, US and EU for luxory life keeping some parts of the country as a show case to show how miserable life is. US has a Muslim president and UK and France have big Muslim minorities which they are unable to assimilate. All these countries try to appease Arabs. As a result the Quartet tries to force Israel to undefensible borders. Result would be that Iran Revolutionary Guard would come to control the border line and Iran, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon armies would try to annihilate Israel. Bibi has been too optimistic in his thoughts. No consession from him would be enough except for formation of a new terrorist state in the heart of Israel

The PLO is nothing but a papertiger for the Pals.

It is not so important who is participating in this talks, esspecially when the most important person is not involved and invitated. When the talks start, they can talk a long time about Golan Heights, settlements, Hamas Hizbollah, security garantues etc. , but in my eyes that's all nonsens and cost to much time and money, because at one point in the future of this talks, all parties, jews and moslems, stand up and go angry away. It's all about Jerusalem and the temple. But only one person , from 6.8 billion human beens, got the right to talk about the temple, and got the legitimation from YHWH to talk about. But neither the pope nor President Obama and Peres have ever speak about this person to the people of Israel and Palästina. Because this person is the end of the power of them all. Would it be possible to bring 95 percent secular jews on the street's to demonstrate for the right of this person to lead this talks, even if this person will finish the democracy in Israel, to establish the Kingdom of YHWH ? This person is not a natural born Cohen from Levi, but the son of David ben Yischai, this person is the King of Judah, and if you jews not understand yet, he is the Maschiach. I feel shame about the religious and political leaders world wide, esspecially the jewish ones, they all know this person his whole life, and they looked to him, while they wanted to kill him with the curse of King Salomon. Nobody, only the Messiah, got the right to talk about the temple in Jerusalem. Israel, search for the Messiah !

Well EU seams to pay money to PA. I guess they have a right to ask for things from them. With Israel EU is useless in the best case, obnoxios often. It is not needed by Israel in negotiations. So thanks for offer but no.

but begs for membership in all European institution and sport oraganisations

Hamas $ so its can send rockets to visit Israeli citizens.

The EU / Ashton / Cameron the turkey, would ruin the talks as usual. Keep them out.

France, UK, Germany are pretty much irrelavent when it comes to "peace process." At least fsrom the Israeli perspective anyway. Too obviously pro Arab and are too compromised by swelling muslim populations who are very much anti Israel.

...part of something for which it can't contribute a thing but continuation in the stirring up the pot....??

When it comes to Turkey's membership, some of the senior EU officials claim that eventhough Turkey is economically, democratically ready, EU can not accept Turkey as it is not logical for EU to have borders with Middle-East countries. well, What kind of contrast is that? Both Palestine and Israel are in middle-east. EU should decide whether it wants to be a strong actor or a club of some privileged countries which is likely to loose its political impact on the regional affairs.

What credibility does EU have with anyone?

What else can you contribute? Your presence? Merci beaucoup, mais non.

The EU is paying for almost half of the Palestinian government so Israel won't have to. The EU has a real economic and strategic interest as much as any player. Pull the EU money and assistance to the PA and Israel would have to pick up that tab. Time to get real people. Occupations and war cost money. Israel has not paid its own costs for decades. How much would Israeli taxpayers be out if Israel had to bear the entire cost of the occupation of the West Bank, with not outside assistance coming into the region? The whole world has a real interest in peace. Wars are fought for economic reasons. Time for peace for economic reasons, too.

On the one hand France is desiring to play a positive role in the Talks... On the other hand it is selling weapons all around in the region... Go figure...

How does supporting a terrorist group mean you should be involved in peace talks? France got this idea from being allowed to enter wwII talks even though they didn't do anything there.

European troups in Israel in the future. Be careful.

Too many chefs in the kitchen already!

Vive la France! Of course Kouchner is right.

The US, Israel, and the Palestinians would be remiss if their talks of peace, division of assets, etc., would commence without all the members of the United Nations present as they are entitled to see and hear for themselves, first hand, what is happening moment by moment, and I want the concessions to sell peanuts, Cracker Jacks, hot dogs, popcorn, and cold sandwiches. I'll leave the hot food and the liquor concession to the Russians.

No problem here. If it turns out to be circus as many expect it will provide first hand light entertainment.

As a former European national, I say the EU can go to hell. And it will. Bilateral talks are bilateral. Neither side in the Israeli-Palestinian Territory talks is in "Europe". At the same time, neither should the US, the Russkies, the Arab League, Iran, or the UN have any role in the bilateral talks. It is time Palestinian Jews and Palestinian Arabs talked face to face without outside intervention. They have to live with their decisions. Good luck to both.

The EU is OK, but what have France contributed besides bans on Hejabs and the expulsion of Gypsies. The

we do not need another versaille treaty. the europeans, the french, the brits, the germans, and all other empire seekers have caused much harm to the entire world for centuries. israel will not be a second czekoslovakia or poland.

the EU, Russia and China were present....the US has proven time and time again that it is not a trustworthy partner for the Palestinians. I guess this works better for Israel..as it always does.

Vive La France! Let's hope this works.. I will email my MP right away to push for this..

I would pay to watch

Is it not yet known whether or not Netanyahu is going to extend the freeze ? What is th point of all of this, if he is going to begin building on September 26 and all talks are off. By the looks of things, it very well appears that Bibi WILL continue the freeze. What does he have up his sleeve ? Everyone is cynical with good cause and I don't understand why all this fuss is continuing if all talks end on Sept 26, 2010.

will be outnumbered by those wanting to see Israel get its way on all counts. We also need an independant representative there so as to overlook the means used to pressure Palestinians to take less than they are legally entitled to.

the negotiations succeed and perhaps propose a toast! Thats what the EU can only do! DAAA

I agree the EU should be at the talks, without them the PA would have collapsed. Also the EU might be able to wring some concessions from Bibi although I doubt it. I hope Mrs Ashton is involved she is a neutral unlike most pro Israeli European politicians.

How about this for a role? Sit patiently on the sidelines and watch. Israel is there because of majority decision by the UN. The fact that Arabs don't get the meaning of majority doesn't mean everyone now has another crack at it. France having a say is about as logical as Iceland or North Korea or Martians having a say. France signed off on the concept that disputed territories will be worked out between Israel and the Arabs. So let it proceed thus.

They should both play a part in the peace talks. They should be totally neutral and should show their neutrality by staying at home and keeping their opinions to themselves.

EU should definitely be involved. The trouble is, the French PM's eyebrows have too much of an arch for him to be trusted.

And maybe Russia should be there too? The only foreseeable problem is the one of too may cooks.

There will be no peace of course. As long as Israel continues to profit by avoiding peace Israel will avoid peace. It will be fun though to have more players in the farce than the usual America and Israel on one side and the Palestinians on the other side. There should also be a chair for the UN and the Russians. We already know that Israel and America and the Palestinians know that peace is not at hand. Does the EU know it is all a farce too?

when a conference of Great Powers could impose a peace. It would be nice to have a conference like the Berlin conference of 1878 in which the Great Powers decided to limit the expansion of Russia's sphere of influence at the expense of Turkey, but the concert of nations paradigm just doesn't work any more. Abbas and Netenyahu will make peace because they have the guts to do it and they think that they can get backing from their public despite the inevitable lambasting by their local Glenn Becks and Rush Limbaughs promoted by Al Jezeera and other local Fox news equivalents. Having the EU at the table, or the French at the table, just means US/EU negotiations for a common position, and that will just be a distraction since it's not the US/EU or French who need to agree.

The Israel / Palestine problem affects everyone, not just Israelis and Palestinians. The more world pressure the better.

Since the world revolved around Paris. The French have not figured that out.

Kouchner is so right. The EU is providing huge amounts of assistance to the PA. Assistance that too often is destroyed by Israel (i.e.: demolished schools in the West Bank, etc). That said, it seems fair enough that the EU is present as an observer in the negotiations. Ideally it would play a role as important as that of the US, the biggest and unconditional ally of Israel. To counterbalance this, and on top of everything, for the sake of the negotiations, the EU's active role would certainly reassure the PA duriing teh talks. Otherwise it feels like David (Palestinians on this occassion) challenging Golliart (the duo Israel-US).

The EU is part of the Quartet which does some of the heavy diplomatic work, and they should be represented in the ceremonial part of the Washington talks (which are mostly devoted to ceremony). The heads of state of Egypt and Jordan were invited (as good neighbors of both sides), so it makes sense that the Presidents of Russia and EU will be invited too. And don't forget Ban please. I am sure Israel will not insist on the Quartet's presence, but the Palestinians better do this for their own good.