The National Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly rejected a communist motion for a resolution condemning "Israel's institutionalization of an apartheid regime" The resolution had been the subject of strong criticism in the presidential camp, the right and the extreme right. It received the support of rebellious and ecologist MEPs but not of the Socialist Group.
"Let's not confuse criticism of the Israeli government's policy... with anti-Semitism," said Mireille Clapot, the only member of her group to abstain on the text.