World Jewish News

'France's support for the security of Israel is constant, unwavering and unconditional'

The spokeswoman of the French foreign ministry has reaffirmed France’s support for the security of Israel.

Asked Thursday during the weekly press briefing about statements made by Iran’s Chief of Staff, Mohammad Bagheri, that Tehran would not tolerate any violation of Syrian sovereignty by Israel, she replied that "France's support for the security of Israel is constant, unwavering and unconditional. "

"This was recalled by the President of the Republic during his meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister in Paris on July 16," she added.

On Monday, Israeli fighter planes bombed an anti-aircraft battery near Damascus after a plane on a reconnaissance mission to Lebanon was shot, according to the Israeli army.

Bagheri added that he was in Damascus to coordinate and cooperate "to fight our common enemies, be they Zionists or terrorists. "

In another development, France condemned Israel's approval this week of the construction of new homes in the West Bank.

"France calls on the Israeli authorities to reverse this decision and to respect their international obligations," said a statement from the French foreign ministry quoted;

"The uninterrupted pursuit of the policy of colonization, confirmed by these new projects, only adds to the tensions on the ground and undermines the prospects for a just and lasting peace based on the two-state solution," it added.

"Colonization, as recalled in UN Security Council Resolution 2334, is illegal under international law,” said the statement, which warned that “settlement plans” had reached an unprecedented level since the beginning of the year, sending “a very negative signal which can only undermine the confidence required between parties”.

On Wednesday, the European Union (EU) alo condemned the construction announcement, stating that the new housing units would "severely jeopardize the contiguity and viability of a future Palestinian state."

"The European Union has requested clarifications from Israeli authorities and conveyed the expectation that they reconsider these decisions, which are detrimental to ongoing efforts towards meaningful peace talks," the EU said in a statement.

The White House, for its part, issued a statement in which it did not condemn Israel, but also said that construction does not advance peace.

“President Trump has publicly and privately expressed his concerns regarding settlements and the Administration has made clear that unrestrained settlement activity does not advance the prospect for peace,” the statement said.

“At the same time the Administration recognizes that past demands for a settlement freeze have not helped advance peace talks.”

EJP