“We can only reject the use of the term apartheid to describe the situation in Israel,” said Laurence Boone, French secretary of state for European affairs.
(May 4, 2023 / JNS) After a group of far-left members of France’s National Assembly put forward a measure labeling Israel an “apartheid state,” the lower house of Parliament rejected it by a margin of 199 to 71.
“We can only reject the use of the term apartheid to describe the situation in Israel,” Laurence Boone, French secretary of state for European affairs, tweeted. “This term carries a heavy load, attached to terrible suffering and bruised memories.”
“We commend France’s National Assembly for voting overwhelmingly to reject a resolution that would have falsely applied the ‘apartheid’ label to Israel,” wrote the American Jewish Committee. “France remains a close friend and vital partner of the Jewish state, a pillar of the Israel-Europe relationship.”
And the European Jewish Congress expressed “deepest gratitude” to the assembly members, “who voted against the false and damaging label of apartheid being attached to Israel and had the courage to denounce its anti-Zionist nature,” and added, “Today, France sent a powerful message of solidarity with Israel and in favor of fairness.”
NEWSRAEL: It is not clear why the French should be commended on this vote. What would happen if a vote was call to declare that the sky is yellow? What is sad here is that the issue was voted on at all and that 71 members actually voted for something that is so clearly a lie made up to sully Israel with shame.
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