France and the Israeli occupation: talking the talk, but not walking the walk?. Issue 1 (1st January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Voltolini, Benedetta
• Is Part Of: Global affairs. Volume 4:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 51
• Page End: 63
• Publication Date: 2018-01-01
• Subjects: France -- foreign policy -- Israeli occupation -- rhetoric-practice gap -- non-recognition; International relations -- Periodicals; World politics -- Periodicals; Geopolitics -- Periodicals; 327.05
• DOI: 10.1080/23340460.2018.1507286
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2334-0460

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This article examines the rhetoric-practice gap in French foreign policy vis-à-vis Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories. It shows that France has maintained a rather stable rhetorical position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Israeli occupation since 1967, based on the condemnation of Israeli settlements in these areas, and the recognition of the Palestinian right to self-determination which, over time, has been crystallised in the French support for the two-state solution. However, in practice France has fallen short of implementing and enforcing measures and policies aimed at the non-recognition of Israeli settlements. France tries to push for the two-state solution internationally, while adopting an accommodating approach towards the occupation when it comes to its bilateral relations with Israel.