Poor M. Douste-Blazy. Even when he gets it right, he gets it wrong. The sensitive folk at Hamas remind M. le Ministre that the so-called security barrier makes the the destruction of Israel more difficult, which Hamas contends is an unreasonable hardship. The functionaries at the Quai d"Orsay side with Hamas.

HAMAS TO FRANCE: WE SUFFER FROM FENCE, NOT YOU
Hamas Responds Harshly To Comments By French Foreign Minister
Philippe Douste-Blazy* That Supported Construction Of Security Barrier;
'France Should Understand Fence Is Symbol Of Racism And Isolation,'
Hamas Spokesperson Declares

October 20, 2006 (Ynet/AFP) - The severe message came after Douste-Blazy gave an interview Thursday on the French Jewish community’s television network, and said that his opinions regarding the fence had "changed a great deal" towards favoring its construction. Douste-Blazy emphasized that his view on the matter had changed, and that "Israel has a right to security."

Douste-Blazy explained the change in his views saying that "although morally and ethically the fence poses a problem for me, from the moment I learned that it prevents 80 percent of terror attacks, I understood that I have no right to think this way about the Israelis."

The French foreign minister's comments suggest a change in France’s position on the security fence. In July 2004 France 'gloated' over its achievements in the UN after it succeeded in passing a decision in the General Assembly to demand Israel dismantle the fence.

Owing to this, apparently, France wished to clarify its stance on the issue and the Foreign Ministry spokesperson published a message Friday saying that France’s opinion remained consistent, and the problematic issue was the route of the fence, not its existence per se.

"We of course recognize Israel’s right to self defense against terrorism, but the route of the separation barrier should not be through Palestinian territories," the message declared.

French foreign policy is never inconsistent. Nor mutable. Nor bound by the pronouncements of its foreign minister.

The French have no objection to Israel running its fence, say, between Mehoz Tel-Aviv and Mehoz HaMerkaz. Of course, such a fence would be useless. But the French do not object to that either.

* The dimmest bulb in the dark Chirac marquee™.

PFFT (What is this?): Hamas boo hoo 2½ | Right of self defense once French approved 3 | Rayonnement français 0