Bernard Kouchner: When Diplomacy Meets Discomfort
Well, ladies and gentlemen, grab your popcorn because it appears things in the geopolitical theatre have taken a sharp left turn, and not just the kind that makes your stomach lurch during a dodgy car ride! Former French Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner, recently hopped onto Radio J and decided to open a can of worms regarding Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, referring to it as a “disproportionate war.” And let’s be honest, who knew dissecting foreign policy could sound like a stand-up routine?!
Kouchner didn’t just dip his toes in the murky waters—oh no! He dove in headfirst, lamenting over the humanitarian crises that have erupted, saying, “How can we not be anti-Semitic when we see the damage done by the Israeli army?” Now that’s a headline that’ll get people buzzing, isn’t it? If I had a euro for every time a politician said something controversial, I’d have… well, enough to start my own radio show!
The Dreaded Disproportionate War
The sheer audacity of highlighting the devastation in Gaza has everyone grabbing their pitchforks, deciding whose side to take in this ongoing saga. Kouchner hits the nail on the head, though, pointing out that revenge served on a platter with “40,000 deaths” might be a bit, shall we say… excessive? I mean, it’s like ordering a happy meal and getting the entire menu. Talk about a supersized reaction!
While the journalist Frédéric Haziza attempted to steer the conversation clear of catastrophe by saying, “You say with what is happening in Gaza, it is normal for us to be anti-Semitic?” Kouchner didn’t mince words. He pushed back, acknowledging the legitimacy of Israel’s military response but insisting that the current approach could be a misstep. A bit like a dance-off where one partner just keeps doing the Macarena while the other craves a waltz.
Anti-Semitism: Fools’ Gold
And then Kouchner dropped a bomb of a quote, saying, “Anti-Semitism is the science of fools. It is a very deep evil. France has always been anti-Semitic.” Now that’s a statement that’s more loaded than a French croissant! And just when you thought he was going to sugar-coat things with some diplomatic charm, he pulls us back into a chilly reality, reminding us that this isn’t just a theme park—it’s serious business!
From Humanitarian to Horror Show
Kouchner, once a beacon of humanitarianism, known for his work with Médecins du Monde, raised a valid alarm. The rising number of anti-Semitic incidents shot up by a whopping 1000% post-Hamas attacks! What’s next? A rise in people buying “I love war” bumper stickers? Yikes! And with almost triple the reported acts of anti-Semitism in 2024 compared to last year, it looks like statistics are having a party no one RSVP’d to.
As We Wrap It Up…
So here we are, watching the show unfold like one big tragicomedy. Kouchner’s candor certainly gives us something to ponder, and while we may love a good one-liner, this isn’t the time to crack jokes. Instead, we should find the crux amidst the chaos, ideally by letting cooler heads prevail—over a warm cup of French coffee, perhaps? Because if there’s anything this situation needs, it’s less vitriol and more humanity. Stay sharp, folks!
By Le Figaro with AFP
Published yesterday at 4:22 p.m., updated 7 hours ago
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The former Minister of Foreign Affairs strongly criticized Israel’s “disproportionate war” in Gaza on Radio J this Sunday.
Former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner lamented on Sunday, on Radio Jthe “disproportionate war” carried out by Israel in Gaza which leads, according to him, to anti-Semitism in France.
“How can we not be anti-Semitic when we see the damage done by the Israeli army? Contemplate Gaza, it is still a field of murders, of disasters. It’s the breakdown of families”he said.
“Of course there were (the Hamas attacks) on October 7 (2023). And God knows it revolted me. But take revenge with 40,000 deaths, if the figure is true…”he added before being interrupted by the journalist.
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Also read In the Gaza Strip, Sinwar’s death opens a new period of uncertainty
“You say with what is happening in Gaza, it is normal for us to be anti-Semitic?”asked journalist Frédéric Haziza. “It’s not normal, but the reaction can be like this”he continued. If he nevertheless specifies that according to him, “Israel’s military reaction after October 7 was legitimate and necessary: it was expected. But to continue like this and only have a military solution is a mistake!”
Anti-Semitism is the science of fools. It is a very deep evil. France has always been anti-Semitic
Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner, head of diplomacy from 2007 to 2010 under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy, stressed that as a former humanitarian, he could only be outraged. “We massacred a lot of people. This is a deadly reaction. I am not satisfied with it”he said. “I spent my life caring for people”.
Nicknamed the «French doctor»Bernard Kouchner, who created Médecins du Monde, for years treated children in Afghanistan, rescued boat people in the China Sea, and even traveled through war-torn Lebanon and besieged Sarajevo. “Anti-Semitism is the science of fools. It is a very deep evil. France has always been anti-Semitic”he also reacted.
In the wake of the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas against Israel, anti-Semitic acts jumped 1000% in the last quarter of 2023. Since the start of 2024, they have almost tripled, with “887 facts” recorded in the first half of the year, according to the latest figures from the authorities (compared to the same period a year earlier).
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