When socialist French President Francois Mitterrand visited Israel in 1982, he laid down the foundations for France's policy on the Palestinians. Current President Francois Hollande's visit to Israel this week re-emphasized it. France, as Hollande reminded everyone on Monday during his visit to Ramallah, is opposed to the settlements, seeks a return to 1967 borders with mutually agreed land swaps, and largely calls for Jerusalem to be the capital of both nations. But between each Francois, France had 17 years of right-wing presidents (Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy), which did not significantly change France's outlook on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Meanwhile, during those two presidencies, Iran developed its nuclear program. The Iranian issue and France's firm stance during the nuclear talks resulted in a warm embrace for Hollande in Jerusalem. The applause he got Monday at the Knesset was for France's actions 10 days ago, though officials in Jerusalem are well aware that the chances of France scuttling another deal with Iran are close to nil. Hollande took three forms during his visit to Israel. At first he was Israel's Hollande, who spoke about Iran as if he were Israel's prime minister. Monday saw Palestine's Hollande, who spoke like Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. On Tuesday we will see the third Hollande, the enthusiastic salesman seeking to bolster France's economy in Israel. Hollande's visit comes during a time when the Middle East is going through serious changes. Washington is leaving a massive vacuum in the Sunni world. France is seeking to use its status in the Arab world to increase its influence. The change in American policy in the Middle East and the Iranian nuclear threat have the French suddenly trying to achieve what Mitterrand-era Foreign Minister Claude Cheysson tried: for the first time in history, to be friends with both Israel and the Palestinians. Now we can also add the Persian Gulf nations to the list as well. That is Hollande's vision.
