US, France tangle over Middle East
The conflict in the Middle East has stirred up a diplomatic stand-off at the UN between France and the US.
The conflict in the Middle East has stirred up a diplomatic stand-off at the UN between France and the US, the first open tension between the two allies since President Joe Biden took power.
Despite guaranteed opposition from Washington, France has proposed another draft UN Security Council resolution calling for the end of hostilities between Israel and Palestinians, as well as humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjaim Netanyahu dismissed Mr Biden’s call for a “significant de-escalation” of air strikes on Gaza, telling ambassadors he was “determined to continue” with the attacks that have killed more than 200 Palestinians and a dozen Israelis.
Israeli fighter jets hit the residences of at least six Hamas leaders early on Thursday, according to an army statement that said “military infrastructure” was stored at each site.
As air raid sirens sounded again in southern Israel, the second most powerful group in Gaza, Islamic Jihad, claimed credit for a fresh volley of rockets.
The persistent unrest came after a strong call from Washington for an easing of the hostilities that erupted on May 10.
“The President conveyed to the Prime Minister that he expected a significant de-escalation today on the path to a ceasefire,” the White House said after a fourth phone call in a little over a week.
The Security Council has been widely criticised for failing to adopt a declaration — with the US, a staunch Israel ally, already rejecting three statement drafts proposed by China, Norway and Tunisia that called for an end to the fighting.
When France announced its draft proposal, the Elysee Palace said “the shooting must stop, the time has come for a ceasefire and the UN Security Council must take up the issue”.
The French UN draft “demands an immediate cessation of hostilities” and calls for “intensification and acceleration of diplomatic efforts and support for a negotiated two-state solution”.
The US has repeatedly vetoed similar resolutions in recent days, saying it is pursuing other avenues to solve the crisis.
France’s latest proposal quickly drew a firm response from the US, signalling it would wield its veto again if needed.
A US representative at the UN said: “We are focused on intensive diplomatic efforts under way to bring an end to the violence and that we will not support actions that we believe undermine efforts to de-escalate.”
The tactics raised suggestions it was an attempt to increase pressure on the US — or to underline that Mr Biden was not meeting his pledge to have a more multilateral approach to international affairs than predecessor Donald Trump.
“It’s a bit strange considering the expectation that we all had for the Americans to return to multilateral diplomacy,” one UN ambassador said on condition of anonymity.
“We also thought that the United States would be keen to show the relevance of the Security Council in situations like this.”
Another said that “we are just asking the US to support a statement by the Security Council that would pretty much say similar things which are being said bilaterally from Washington.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament that “the American position will be quite decisive … It is true that we have seen the United States a little behind all this.”
Over 10 days, Israeli strikes have killed 227 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, while Palestinian rocket fire has claimed 12 lives in Israel, according to Israeli police.
An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Israel was assessing at what stage it may stop its military campaign. “We are looking at when is the right moment for a ceasefire,” the source said.
Mr Netanyahu earlier issued a tough threat against Hamas, which Israel says is responsible for the estimated 4000 rockets fired at the Jewish state since May 10.
“You can either conquer them, and that’s always an open possibility, or you can deter them, and we are engaged right now in forceful deterrence,” Mr Netanyahu told foreign ambassadors. “But I have to say we don’t rule out anything.”
Speaking later, he said: “I am determined to continue this operation until its objective is achieved: to restore quiet and security” for Israelis.
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said the group that has run Gaza since 2007 could “continue its resistance longer than the occupation (Israel) estimates”.
The palpable tension between France and the US could leave traces and affect other issues.
The two countries have also disagreed this week on whether to give assistance to the anti-jihadist force G5 Sahel in West Africa.
France, which is heavily engaged politically and militarily in the region, has been campaigning for years for financial, logistical and operational support from the UN to the force’s 5000 under-equipped soldiers, provided by Niger, Chad, Mauritania, Mali and Burkina Faso.
The Trump administration had categorically refused, and France had hoped for more support after Mr Biden took office in January.
But the US again opposed the French stand, instead backing bilateral aid.
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