Supporters of Israel are seriously concerned that a victory for the Socialist-Communist coalition in France’s legislative elections March 12 and 19 could mean a tougher stand on Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territory and the creation of a Palestinian state. Both parties in the left-wing coalition recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization as representative of the Palestinian people. The Communist line, however, is much harsher on Israel than the Socialists’ which has moderated recently.
Francois Mitterand, Secretary General of France’s Socialist Party, said in on interview with the French-Jewish weekly Tribune Juive, published last Friday, that should his party form the next government it will support “Israel’s right to exist within safe and recognized borders guaranteed by the international community of nations.”
But he stressed as well “the right of the Palestinians to a homeland based on the West Bank with in a state-like framework which we cannot define.” Mitterand added, “We recognize the PLO’s representation (of the Palestinian people) which the UN granted it. We believe, however, that the PLO will deprive itself of its own means as long as it fails to recognize the State of Israel.”
LIKUD GROUP BLASTS MITTERAND
Mitterand took a less moderate position last Feb. 22 when he termed the PLO the “only recognized Palestinian representative.” He retreated from that apparently after Jewish Socialist circles warmed that such a position would cost votes and jeopardize a Socialist victory.
Nevertheless, the French branch of Likud blasted Mitterand. “We are deeply concerned about M. Mitterand’s attitude toward Israel and the Middle East conflict,” it said in a statement released over the weekend. Likud said it saw “clear indications about the foreign policy he would apply if he came to power and such policy goes beyond that presently applied (by France).
While “it is true that M. Mitterand has supported the existence of the Jewish State within secure and recognized borders,” Likud said, “there is a flagrant contradiction since the PLO and the Arab states which support this organization deny Israel the right to exist.”
HARSH COMMUNIST PARTY LINE
The French Communist leader Georges Marchais said that if the Socialist-Communist coalition forms the next government, it will support the creation of a Palestinian state and Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied territories. In an interview in LeMonde published last Thursday, Marchais said: “No just and lasting solution (to the Middle East conflict) can be found if the PLO, the organization representing the Palestinian people and internationally recognized as such, is kept out of the negotiations.”
Most political observers and public opinion polls predict a victory for the Socialist-Communist combine. But whether it will be capable of forming a government depends on its ability to resolve the deep seated differences between the two parties in time for the elections. Many observers doubt that this will be possible.
None of the parties in the current election campaign, except the small left-wing Radicals, are making much of an effort to woo Jewish voters on the national level. Political observers site two reasons: the 600,000-member French Jewish community represents only about one percent of the population and party strategists fear that making promises to the Jewish electorate might antagonize a for larger proportion of the voters who believe French national interests should be served first; also, the Jewish population is widely dispersed.
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