France preferred Netanyahu not attend Paris rally

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives at the Grand Synagogue of Paris for the memorial ceremony, Channel 2 reports that the French government didn’t want Netanyahu to attend the march earlier today, because his presence would be divisive.

Netanyahu initially acceded to the request, but then decided to go after Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said they would be going.

In retaliation, the Channel 2 report says, the Elysee Palace extended an invitation to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and when Netanyahu announced his attendance Paris chose to highlight their invite to Abbas.

French President Francois Hollande (3rd L) is surrounded by head of states (From L to R : Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, Ibrahim Boubakar Keita of Mali, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, EU Council President Donald Tusk and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas) as they attend the solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris January 11, 2015. (photo credit: AFP/POOL PHILIPPE WOJAZER)

French President Francois Hollande (3rd from left) is surrounded by head of state (from left to right) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ibrahim Boubakar Keita of Mali, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, EU Council President Donald Tusk and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas as they attend the solidarity march (Marche Republicaine) in the streets of Paris, January 11, 2015. (photo credit: AFP/Philippe Wojazer, Pool)