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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 2 - 8 March 2000 Issue No. 471
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Interview Features Focus Heritage Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters French faux pas
By Ranwa Yehia
Fierce public and official denunciations resounded throughout Lebanon this week following French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin's criticism of the Lebanese resistance during his recent visit to Israel.
Despite French reassurances -- by both President Jacques Chirac and Deputy Speaker of the Senate Gerard Larche -- that their policy toward Lebanon had not changed, angry protests broke out on Monday in condemnation of Jospin's calling attacks against Israel's occupation of the south "terrorist acts".
On Monday, several national political parties organised a demonstration that drew thousands of people in Baalbek, east of Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. But while demonstrators strongly denounced Jospin, there was no direct reference to France or Chirac -- suggesting the political parties' recognition that Jospin's statements do not necessarily reflect French foreign policy.
The demonstrators unfurled banners reading: "France knows what the blood of resistance fighters means"; "The road to the French elections does not pass through Lebanon"; and "Jospin's ambition to reach the French presidency is not served by adopting stands against Lebanon and the resistance, and not by describing the resistance as terrorist." The slogans referred to the upcoming French presidential elections in which the French premier is expected to challenge conservative incumbent Chirac.
Lebanese officials reacted forcefully; Prime Minister Salim Hoss summoned French Ambassador Philippe Lecourtier to express official censure of Jospin's remarks. A source at the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday it had received "assurances from President Chirac that French foreign policy would not change as a result of Jospin's comments.
Hoss said that "any people under occupation have the right to launch resistance attacks." He said he found Jospin's statements surprising, "especially given France's dramatic experience in resisting Nazi occupation".
"The Lebanese resistance movement is abiding by the April Understanding, while Israel violated it when it attacked three power stations earlier this month," he said. "It is not acceptable to describe the Lebanese resistance movement as terrorist."
Lebanese Speaker of the House Nabih Berri said that Jospin's comments "infringed on President Chirac's prerogatives". Speaking at the airport before leaving for Tehran to preside over the first conference of Islamic parliamentarians, Berri added: "It's a pity that the French premier, obviously to serve trivial personal political interests, has forgotten that Lebanon's territory is occupied."
Hizbullah Deputy Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem warned Jospin against returning to Lebanon before apologising first for his comments. "Jospin is not welcome in Lebanon and I hope that he won't think of visiting this country before apologising for the affront -- to the Lebanese resistance and people, especially the children, the women and everyone who suffered from Israeli attacks," he said.
Speaking to Hizbullah's Noor Radio, Qassem described Saturday's stone-throwing in which Jospin was hit as "a blessed sign of solidarity with the Lebanese people and Hizbullah from young people who refuse to capitulate to the Zionist enemy".
Former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a personal friend of Chirac's, telephoned the French president twice over the weekend to denounce Jospin's comments. A source close to Hariri said that Chirac confirmed that "the balanced French policy in the Middle East will be maintained." Chirac also said that "France is keen to maintain its credibility among the region's countries in order to support the efforts to achieve peace."
