Obama has No Comment on French Proposal

The French had not specifically informed their U.S. friends about their initiative on Palestine at the U.N.

Before the bilateral meeting of the two presidents at the Waldorf Astoria, Barack Obama was asked about the French proposal (a plan leading to the recognition of the Palestinian state by the General Assembly in one year, with intermediate steps of negotiations without preconditions).

The U.S. president declined to comment.

The matter is delicate. The French initiative — rather well received by the Palestinians, while the Israelis have limited themselves to “acknowledging” it — is likely to pull a thorn from the foot of everyone, especially the Americans — who will not have to use their veto.

But in its second phase, the Sarkozy plan will end up quite simply turning the page — one where the Americans reigned supreme over the peace process (at one time, they barely tolerated the quartet whose praises they sing today).

The French idea would amount to “multi-lateralizing” the process. The Americans, even if they are exhausted and in an electoral campaign, can only let go of their turf with difficulty.