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Netanyahu fumbles diplomatic process

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could have seized an opportunity at the Paris march to walk alongside Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a display of unity against terror, but preferred to ignore him and focus on his electorate.
French President Francois Hollande is surrounded by Heads of state including (LtoR) Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Council President Donald Tusk and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as they attend the solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris January 11, 2015. French citizens will be joined by dozens of foreign leaders, among them Arab and Muslim representatives, in a march on Sunday in
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When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his way to the front row of the unity march in Paris Jan. 11, he shook hands with Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and linked arms with him as they marched down the streets of the French capital. The day after, long articles appeared in Israel’s media focusing on colorful, grotesque descriptions of the Israeli prime minister. Not only was Netanyahu unwelcome at the event, he had even taken the liberty to elbow his way to the head of the march, led by French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Another motive behind Netanyahu’s actions, one which was not addressed significantly, was his conscious choice to find the furthest possible spot on the line from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Abbas also participated in the memorial rally for the terror victims, including the Jewish victims from the Hyper Cacher kosher grocery store.

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