Situation in Gaza 'biggest historical scandal,' former French premier says | Anadolu Agency |

Dominique de Villepin criticizes Israel for creating circumstances for reoccupation of Gaza, which is already 'besieged'

A former French prime minister described the situation in Gaza as the "biggest historical scandal" and criticized France's position in the conflict.

"We no longer have a voice in the international scene," Dominique de Villepin told broadcaster France Inter.

"(The situation in) Ukraine is accelerating and worsening. Gaza is undoubtedly the biggest historical scandal ... It is a true scandal in terms of democracy. All of this in the name of what? In the name of war. 'Ah, it is war, it is like that.'

Alright, but it is not exactly a war like others in Gaza, since it is the civilian populations that are dying. We are in absurdity, and France erases itself," he said.

Israel has killed more than 41,000 Palestinians in the besieged enclave since a cross-border attack by Palestinian group Hamas last October. The actions have led to mass destruction, displacement, shortages of food and spread of disease.

Dominique de Villepin, who served from 2005-2007, lashed out at the killing of civilians and said bodies, hearts, souls, and heads were "in pieces" in Gaza.
He criticized Israel for creating the circumstances for a reoccupation of the enclave, from where it withdrew in 2005.

"Israel regained possession of Gaza ... Gaza is completely besieged. At a moment where the West Bank is also decomposing as we see it in the north of the West Bank, and the south of the West Bank, we are facing a true time bomb," the former premier added.

Asked about what France and Europe could possibly do to help solve the conflict, he said they have levers in terms of armament and economy.

But possible solutions such as trade restrictions are not implemented for several reasons, the former premier said, adding: "It is the same problem in Ukraine and Gaza. We do not have a political objective. Israel does not have any political objectives. And when you do not have political objectives, all you know is to wage war."

Former French PM: 'West will have to pay for Gaza silence' | MEMO |

Former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin gave an impassioned interview to French radio about the 'scandal' of the war in Gaza, which he says has been forgotten about in France. De Villepan says Gaza is a war like no other because of its high civilian death toll, and says France and Europe have the military and economic levers to pressure Israel but they choose not to.

Commentators in France are remarking about how rare it is for someone with the profile of de Villepin - a right-wing politician who served as prime minister, foreign minister and interior minister under Jacques Chiraq's government - to criticise Israel so openly and tell the truth about the war in Gaza.

⁽¹⁾ Commentators in France ... don't these people realize politicians have moved towards far-right (xenophobia) and populism ... shouldering fascism.

YEAR 2015: End 2-State Solution for Peace

Netanyahu's statement ends all doubt - the right intends to annex and occupy the West Bank permanently. They have no interest in peace, simply in Palestinian surrender. No more excuses for US politicians and American Jewish establishment. Time for loud, principled opposition

— Jeremy Ben-Ami (@JeremyBenAmi) April 6, 2019

[+972 Mag by Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man - 15 March 2015
https://www.972mag.com/if-netanyahu-is-re-elected-israel-has-a-europe-problem/]

EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, July 11, 2014. (EU Photo)

Annexation is happening whether Netanyahu is reelected or not | +972 Mag - 6 Apr 2019 |

Four years ago (2015), on the eve of Israeli elections, Benjamin Netanyahu promised in a television interview that there would never be a Palestinian state on his watch. He retracted the statement a few days after winning, but only those who wanted to believe him actually did. Opposing Palestinian statehood has always been Netanyahu’s policy. He has diverged from it on rare occasions, when he was under enormous pressure to do so, and even then with a conspiratorial wink to his supporters.

Again on the eve of Israeli elections, Netanyahu stopped winking. Asked point blank in a television interview if he will annex a bloc of West Bank settlements in his next term, he responded unambiguously in the affirmative.

Ten months ago ...

Absolutely masterful interview on Gaza of Dominique De Villepin, former Prime Minister of France, who famously led France's opposition to the Iraq war and who, IMHO is the best diplomat the West has produced in decades.

This is so important, so incredibly well argued, that I... pic.twitter.com/KSSdM4p5Bf

— Arnaud Bertrand (@RnaudBertrand) October 28, 2023